The decision was already expected and has now been confirmed: the Italian government has decided to extend air and sea border controls with Spain for another 15 days. Consequently, all passengers arriving from non-EU countries arriving on flights or ships from Spanish ports must continue to present their travel documents.
"The decision has been taken," the Ministry of the Interior said, "in line with the analysis carried out by the Immigration and Border Security Analysis Committee. The decision reflects the maintenance of the factors that initially motivated the reintroduction of these controls on August 1, also taking into account initiatives already launched by Spain — together with the European Union — aimed at the path to a normalization of the situation in the region."
As reported by the newspaper La Repubblica, the decision stems from a technical and political assessment by the government, which concluded that the situation in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta is far from under control. At least 5,000 people remain in Ceuta; according to Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, the vast majority have not been identified, and jihadist terrorists could be hiding among them.
Piantedosi communicated the reasons for the extension to his Spanish counterpart, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, during what the Ministry of the Interior described as a "constructive telephone conversation".
