ROME , Italy ( CNN ) -- Melting glaciers in the Alps may prompt Italy and Switzerland to redraw their borders near the Matterhorn , according to parliamentary draft legislation being readied in Rome . Glaciers in the Alps near the Matterhorn are receding , forcing the border to be redrawn . Franco Narducci of Italy 's opposition Democratic Party is preparing a bill to redefine the frontier with neighboring Switzerland , his office said Wednesday . Narducci is a member of the foreign affairs panel in Italy 's lower Chamber of Deputies . Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has authorized the bill . Switzerland also has cooperated with Italy on the matter . The Italian Military Geographic Institute says climate change is responsible for the Alpine glaciers melting . `` This draft law is born out the necessity to revise and verify the frontiers given the changes in climate and atmosphere , '' Narducci said . `` The 1941 convention between Italy and Switzerland established as criteria [ for border revisions ] the ridge [ crest ] of the glaciers . Following the withdrawal of the glaciers in the Alps , a new criterion has been proposed so that the new border coincides with the rock . '' The border change only affects uninhabited mountaintop terrain . The deputy excludes the possibility of any family having to change citizenship . The border between Italy and Switzerland was fixed 1861 , when Italy became a nation , but it has been occasionally modified , the Military Geographic Institute said . The border was last modified in the 1970s when the Switzerland-Italy highway was built at the Brogeda crossing . The bill is expected to become law by the end of April , Narducci said . Unlike Switzerland , Italy can change its border only with new laws approved by parliament . Narducci said the same negotiation will be proposed to France and Austria . `` Once upon a time , the border line demarcation between two nations was synonymous to war and bloodshed , '' he said . `` Instead , today we proceed with photograms . ''
Melting glaciers in Matterhorn forcing Switzerland and Italy to redraw their borders . The Italian Military Geographic Institute blames climate change for melting . Switzerland cooperating with Italians on potential changes .