Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, said: “The Austrian bill on the consular protection of German and Ladin-speaking people in South Tyrol does not comply with EU laws on European citizenship and consular matters. Moreover, it is clearly contrary to international law, as well as not complying with the cooperation that should exist among EU countries. For this reason, we instructed the Italian ambassador in Vienna yesterday to lodge a formal protest to the Austrian government against the bill, based on exact points of law.”