The Italian Interior Ministry triggered Article 25a of the Schengen Borders Code late on 3 November 2025, re-introducing temporary border controls with Austria from 03 to 04 November 2025. The exceptional measure is designed to mitigate public-order risks surrounding the high-profile UEFA Champions League fixture between SSC Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt, scheduled for the evening of 4 November in Naples.
While the control window is short, it affects two of the busiest Alpine crossings—Brenner (A13/A22) and Reschen Pass (B180/SS40)—plus spot checks on south-bound EC and Nightjet rail services. Italian police are working jointly with Austria’s BMI and ÖBB security staff to identify hooligan groups travelling overland. Freight traffic is exempt but may face minor delays due to lane closures.
![Italy Re-imposes Checks at Brenner and Reschen Passes for Champions League Security]()
For Austrian corporates with supply chains that rely on just-in-time deliveries to Northern Italy, the temporary checks highlight the ongoing fragility of Schengen’s internal borders. Logistics providers advise dispatching high-value loads either side of the 48-hour window or rerouting via Tarvisio (A2/A23) where traffic volumes are lighter. Business travellers heading to Milan or Bologna on 4 November should build extra buffer times into itineraries and carry proof of accommodation to speed passage.
The episode is the second sports-related suspension of free movement this year and comes only weeks after France imposed controls for the Rugby World Cup. EU mobility experts warn that such event-specific suspensions are becoming more frequent and that companies may need to integrate real-time border-status feeds into travel-approval workflows.
Italian authorities confirmed that the border would return to open-status at 00:00 on 5 November, barring unforeseen incidents. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner welcomed the “close coordination” and said the operation demonstrates effective cross-border policing without permanently undermining Schengen.
While the control window is short, it affects two of the busiest Alpine crossings—Brenner (A13/A22) and Reschen Pass (B180/SS40)—plus spot checks on south-bound EC and Nightjet rail services. Italian police are working jointly with Austria’s BMI and ÖBB security staff to identify hooligan groups travelling overland. Freight traffic is exempt but may face minor delays due to lane closures.
For Austrian corporates with supply chains that rely on just-in-time deliveries to Northern Italy, the temporary checks highlight the ongoing fragility of Schengen’s internal borders. Logistics providers advise dispatching high-value loads either side of the 48-hour window or rerouting via Tarvisio (A2/A23) where traffic volumes are lighter. Business travellers heading to Milan or Bologna on 4 November should build extra buffer times into itineraries and carry proof of accommodation to speed passage.
The episode is the second sports-related suspension of free movement this year and comes only weeks after France imposed controls for the Rugby World Cup. EU mobility experts warn that such event-specific suspensions are becoming more frequent and that companies may need to integrate real-time border-status feeds into travel-approval workflows.
Italian authorities confirmed that the border would return to open-status at 00:00 on 5 November, barring unforeseen incidents. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner welcomed the “close coordination” and said the operation demonstrates effective cross-border policing without permanently undermining Schengen.
