THIS map shows how the Schengen is falling to pieces as Austria and Switzerland seal themselves off from Europe in an attempt to avoid the migrant crisis.
Austria has hammered the latest nail in the coffin to the ailing ‘free movement’ Schengen by installing huge fences at four border crossings as well as border checks at a major transport point.
From June, checks will begin in Brenner Pass, the major motorway linking the country with Italy as part of a €1million tightening of borders set to cause chaos for commuters, hauliers and local businesses.
In turn, panicking Switzerland has 2,000 soldiers in army tanks poised to patrol its border with Italy, fearing migrants will take a new route through the country to avoid Austria.
Large fences are also set to be built as a priority in Austria at the Moschendorf, Heiligenbrunn, Heiligenkreuz and Nickelsdorf border crossing points throughout the Burgenland region, before migrants travelling by foot arrive.
The EU Commission has described the move, outlined by Austrian interior minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner, as worrying given the Brenner Pass’ importance as a key Alpine crossing point — particularly for heavy goods vehicles.
A government spokesman said the materials and staff are already in place and construction will begin as soon as landowners approve the proposals.
Austria is also planning an increased number of anti-trafficker patrols.
Switzerland and Italy are now scrambling to protect themselves after becoming a path for huge numbers of migrants marching through Europe, following the bottleneck in Greece.
With razor-wire border fences in Macedonia and Bulgaria blocking their progress, migrants are now travelling from north Africa to Italy instead.
Around 2,000 people are now arriving in Sicily a day, with experts predicting that Italy's migrant influx will double to 300,000 this year.
Switzerland has told 2,000 soldiers in the Swiss Tank Battalion to postpone their holidays in order to be ready for deployment at the border at a moment's notice.
Norman Gobbi, the security director of the Swiss Canton of Ticino, said: “We expect a significant increase in the number of refugees this summer. If Austria now closes off the Brenner Pass, Switzerland will become the only gateway to Northern Europe. Before that, we have to protect ourselves."