Italy extends border controls with Spain by 15 days

Italy has decided to extend by a further 15 days the suspension of Schengen rules in its relations with Spain, maintaining controls at air and maritime borders for people arriving from Spanish territory, the Italian Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Authorities in Rome justified the decision by citing the situation in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta and the persistence of problems considered essential in the context of the migrant crisis. The measure represents a further extension of the temporary controls, initially introduced on July 31 for a period of one month.

The suspension of Schengen rules has already been extended twice, each time by 15 days. During this period, Italy continued checking travelers entering the country from Spain, including on air and maritime routes.

Spain responded by carrying out random checks on people arriving from Italy. The Italian decision therefore temporarily maintains restrictions at the internal border between the two member states of the Schengen area, amid concerns related to migration through Ceuta.