Italy extends Schengen checks for travelers from Spain by 15 days

Italy has extended by another 15 days the suspension of Schengen rules in its relations with Spain, maintaining checks at air and sea borders for travelers arriving from Spanish territory. The decision was announced Tuesday by Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi in a statement sent to the European Commission and the member states of the European Union.

The measure was initially introduced on August 1 for a period of one month, following the migrant crisis in Ceuta, and has already been extended once by 15 days. The Italian Interior Ministry said the new decision is based on an assessment by the Committee for the Analysis of Immigration and Border Security, which met Tuesday.

According to the assessment, high risks to internal security persist, including possible dangers associated with terrorist infiltration. In response, Spain introduced random checks for travelers arriving from Italy.

Rome's decision was criticized by Madrid and by Italian opposition parties, which described it as a propaganda move. Critics emphasized that entry into Ceuta does not automatically provide access to the Schengen Area, and that Italy and Spain do not share a border.