Austria’s chancellor flew into a diplomatic row with Italy on Tuesday over his government’s plans to offer passports to German-speaking inhabitants of South Tyrol in Italy.

The dispute overshadowed Sebastian Kurz’s visit to Rome and a meeting with Giuseppe Conte, the Italian prime minister.

Italy accused its northern neighbour of “anachronistic revanchism” over the proposed law, which would enable German-speaking Italian citizens in South Tyrol to apply for Austrian citizenship while keeping their existing Italian citizenship.

South Tyrol was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1919 when it was given to Italy as a prize for fighting on the Allied side during the First World War.

Italian and Austrian forces fought a series of bitter, high altitude battles in South Tyrol and the neighbouring province of Trentino and the issue remains emotionally charged for both countries. For Italy, the dual citizenship proposal is an unnecessary provocation by Austria’s ruling conservative and far-Right coalition, smacking of dreams of a greater Austria.