Red alarm level: Italy wants to abolish Austria's protective power function!

Red alarm level: Italy wants to abolish Austria's protective power function!

Südtirol, Italien - Today, on May 29, 2025, the Italian Senator Alessandro Urzì expresses his ambitions to get rid of the protective function of Austria via South Tyrol. This development comes across sharp criticism from the FPÖ politician Christofer Ranzmaier and Gudrun Kofler, who interpret the statements of Urzì as a direct attack on the Paris Agreement. Urzì describes the protective power function as a "polite gesture" and legally not binding, which Ranzmaier and Kofler decidedly reject.

Ranzmaier emphasizes that the silence of the Austrian federal government on Urzì's statements could be assessed as a failure. He also criticizes the foreign policy of NEOS Foreign Minister Meinl-Reisinger and calls for a clear answer from the government. According to Ranzmaier, the explanation of considering South Tyrol as an inner Italian matter violates the dispute resolution that was made in 1992.

background of the Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement of 1946, signed by Austria's Foreign Minister Karl Gruber and Italy's Prime Minister Alcide de Gasperi, anchored the protection of the German -speaking population in South Tyrol. Despite the initial criticism of the contract, he developed over the years as the basis of the special autonomy, which is covered by both constitutionally and internationally towards Austria. The Constitutional Court found in 1989 that the Autonomy of the Trentino-Südtirol region was due to the Gruber Degasperi Agreement.

Kofler also criticizes the behavior of the South Tyrolean People's Party and by Governor Compatscher. Together with Ranzmaier, she clarifies that South Tyrol remains part of Tyrol and that Austria is still the protective power that is legally securitized under international law. The discussion about the protective function has once again understood how sensitive matter about autonomy and the cultural identity of the German -speaking population in South Tyrol.

Current situation and reactions

Austria has made use of its protective function several times in the past 60 years to request and monitor compliance with the Paris Treaty by Italy. Ranzmaier and Kofler are now calling for Austria to be active to protect the rights of the German -speaking population in the region.

The current statements of Urzì raise questions about the future role of Austria in South Tyrol and illustrate the need to strengthen the international legal foundation of the Paris Agreement. In this context, the critical attitude of the FPÖ is heard, which is perceived as the keeper of the rights of the German -speaking population. The developments show that the autonomy of South Tyrol and the associated international responsibility of Austria will continue to remain a central topic of bilateral relationships between Austria and Italy.