Italy imposes one-month border checks on arrivals from Spain after Ceuta crisis
- 2 days ago
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ROME, July 31 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Italy will temporarily reinstate border checks on travellers arriving from Spain by air and sea after more than 50,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
The suspension of passport-free Schengen travel between the two countries will remain in place for one month, Italy’s Interior Ministry said on Friday.
Border police will carry out targeted checks on third-country nationals arriving from Spain to verify that they hold the documents required for travel within the European Union.
Italy also agreed with France to strengthen controls along their shared land border to prevent undocumented migrants from entering the country.
Spain said it had brought the situation in Ceuta under control and that most of those who crossed the border had returned voluntarily.
Opposition lawmakers accused Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government of using the measure to appeal to voters amid political pressure from a new far-right party led by former army general Roberto Vannacci.
Piero De Luca, a senior lawmaker with the centre-left Democratic Party, called the decision “purely demagogic” and said it would not resolve the situation.
The Schengen Area normally permits passport-free travel across 29 European countries, but members may temporarily restore checks on security or public-order grounds.
Source: Reuters
