Italy announced Tuesday that it is extending border controls for travelers arriving from Spain for an additional 15 days, prompting Madrid to extend similar measures for those arriving from Italy, in the latest chapter of the dispute between the two EU member states.
The diplomatic row began on August 1, when the Italian Interior Ministry imposed temporary measures following the influx of tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa during July.
Rome's month-long suspension of the free movement of people under the Schengen Agreement with Spain drew condemnation from Madrid and other EU countries, and led Spanish authorities to impose similar restrictions on travelers arriving from Italy.
The Italian Interior Ministry said Tuesday that the extension of the measures was decided upon based on assessments conducted by a border security committee.
It added that "the high risks to internal security remain, along with potential dangers related to the possible infiltration of terrorists."
For its part, the Spanish Interior Ministry announced that the border controls on arrivals from Italy, which began on August 8, will continue until October 8, explaining that the reasons for imposing them "remain unchanged."
It added in a statement that "a change in these circumstances may justify adjusting the planned schedule."
Italy and Spain do not share a land border, so the controls are implemented at airports and seaports receiving flights and ferries from the other country.
The Schengen Area comprises 29 European countries that have officially abolished border controls at their common borders.
0 Comments