Italy extends the Schengen ban with Spain by 15 days. And Madrid does the same with Rome

Schengen, Italy has decided to extend until September 15th i border controls areas and maritime with the Spain which had been introduced on August 1st, due to the migration crisis in the Spanish exclave in Morocco Ceuta. This was announced by the Interior Ministry, explaining that the provision is being notified to the European Commission and that the assessments underlying the provision were communicated by the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, to his Spanish colleague, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, “during a constructive telephone discussion”.

The note from the Interior Ministry, Schengen stop with Madrid for another 15 days

“The decision – informs the Interior Ministry – was taken, in line with the analysis carried out by the Immigration and Border Security Analysis Committee, due to the persistence of the evaluation elements that had been the basis of their reintroduction last 1 August, but at the same time also taking into account the initiatives already launched by Spain, together with the European Union, so that in that area the situation can move towards a near normalization. The evaluations underlying the extension provision were communicated by the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, to his Spanish counterpart, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, during a constructive telephone discussion”.

Piantedosi: “Extension necessary”

Italy’s extension of the suspension of the Schengen treaty was “necessary. A decision motivated by the fact that there is an analysis carried out by specialists who meet in the border security analysis committee”. The Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, said this in Naples, on the sidelines of a commemoration. “We limited it to 15 days because, if on the one hand the analysis carried out by specialists indicates that the reasons for which this measure was initiated remain, on the other hand the effort that the Spanish government is making together with the European Union to create the right overcoming of the situation that has been created is certainly appreciable”. Overcoming the situation, in which “we trust and we are also available for any form of collaboration with Spain, with the European Union”, adds the minister. “So a decision which is also based on a measure which, as you have seen, was not particularly invasive, pervasive and allowed the normality of transits between European citizens and therefore we will move forward”, he concludes.

Spain’s requests

Spain had already unsuccessfully asked Rome to lift the restrictions and responded by introducing controls for travelers from Italy from 8 August, a measure that will remain in force until 7 September. Last Friday the Spanish Foreign Minister, Josè Manuel Albares, once again accused Rome of “lack of solidarity” and of having used the migration crisis to gain political advantage. Meanwhile, the prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, Pedro Sanchez, has exonerated Morocco and accused “an ultra-right international” of having orchestrated a disinformation campaign that led to the assault of tens of thousands of migrants in Ceuta at the end of July. Sanchez also denounced Russia and Israel for amplifying disinformation.

Spain extends Schengen checks from Italy by 15 days

The Spanish government has decided to extend border controls on passengers arriving from Italy for another 15 days, in response to the similar measure adopted by Rome against travelers arriving from Spain. The checks will concern people who enter Spanish territory from Italy “by sea or by air”, sources from the Ministry of the Interior said. The measure will remain in force until September 21st.