Rome, 30 Sept. (LaPresse) – Pedro Sánchez’s Spanish government has decided to extend border controls for travellers arriving from Italy by a further 15 days, following the Italian Interior Ministry’s announcement of a further extension to the suspension of the Schengen Agreement with Spain. LaPresse has learnt this from sources at the Spanish Ministry of the Interior. Madrid first introduced border checks at airports and seaports for direct connections between Spain and Italy on 8 August, following the decision by Giorgia Meloni’s government to suspend the Schengen Agreement in the wake of the arrival of around 80,000 migrants in Ceuta at the end of July, and subsequently extended them. The checks were due to expire on 8 October. Spain has consistently criticised the measure introduced by Italy, stating that there are no security risks to the Schengen area as no one can leave the exclave of Ceuta without passing through police checks. The Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, had described Italy’s decision in recent days as “absurd, pointless and a disgrace”, arguing that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni were acting “more like party political leaders than European leaders equal to the task”.
Migrants: Sources in Madrid say Spain is also extending border checks with Italy by 15 days
Rome, 30 Sept. (LaPresse) – Pedro Sánchez’s Spanish government has decided to extend border controls for travellers arriving from Italy by a further 15 days, following the Italian Interior Ministry’s announcement of a further extension to the suspension of the Schengen Agreement with Spain. LaPresse has learnt this from sources at the Spanish Ministry of the Interior. Madrid first introduced border checks at airports and seaports for direct connections between Spain and Italy on 8 August, following the decision by Giorgia Meloni’s government to suspend the Schengen Agreement in the wake of the arrival of around 80,000 migrants in Ceuta at the end of July, and subsequently extended them. The checks were due to expire on 8 October. Spain has consistently criticised the measure introduced by Italy, stating that there are no security risks to the Schengen area as no one can leave the exclave of Ceuta without passing through police checks. The Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, had described Italy’s decision in recent days as “absurd, pointless and a disgrace”, arguing that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni were acting “more like party political leaders than European leaders equal to the task”.