Italy extended border controls with Spain by 15 days

Italy has extended controls at the air and sea borders with Spain for another 15 days, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement.

“The Minister of the Interior (Italy - ed.) Matteo Piantedosi decided today to extend controls at the air and sea borders with Spain for 15 days and notified the European Commission and fellow ministers of the EU countries about this,” the message says.

The decision to extend was made after a meeting of the Migration and Border Security Review Committee. The Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs noted that high risks for internal security remain, as well as a possible threat associated with the infiltration of terrorists.

At the end of July, Ceuta, located in North Africa and bordering Morocco, experienced a massive influx of migrants. The Spanish Interior Ministry reported that about 72 thousand migrants entered the country from Morocco. Most of them were returned to Morocco. Italy, in response to the migration crisis from August 1, introduced additional checks of passengers and transport arriving from Spain.

Subsequently, the suspension of free movement on the borders of the two countries was extended twice.