Spain: ultimatum to Italia to lift border controls. Palazzo Chigi: the suspension of the Schengen Agreement remains in place
The Government’s response: Italia will not accept foreign dictates regarding national security and border control. Meanwhile, the Minister for Youth and Children, Sira Rego, has travelled to Ceuta to continue providing assistance to unaccompanied migrant children
Key points
Another day of high diplomatic tensions between Madrid and Rome following Italia’s suspension of the Schengen Agreement in the wake of migrants entering Ceuta. The Spanish government has warned Italia that it will take ‘proportionate measures’ if border controls for travellers arriving from Spain are not lifted by Sunday. But Palazzo Chigi’s response, issued in a statement, was not long in coming: “Italia does not accept ultimatums or impositions from abroad regarding national security and border control. Under no circumstances do we intend to review the decision to suspend the application of the Schengen Agreement for third-country nationals arriving from Spain, at least until 15 August and in any case until security and terrorism risks to Italia have been completely ruled out.”
Security and terrorism risks
“Only when we are certain that there will be no security or terrorist risks for Italia, that there will be no new wave of migration, and that there are no irregular migrants heading for European territory, will it be possible to review what has already been decided,” Palazzo Chigi continues. “This is without prejudice to a friendly country such as Spain,” it is emphasised, “in line with similar decisions taken in the past by the Italian government – for example, regarding Slovenia – and by European governments regarding Italia and Spain itself. Should any of these conditions cease to apply, Italia stands ready to continue constructive dialogue with the Government in Madrid.”
Maximum freedom of movement for Spanish citizens
“In the meantime, the Italian border authorities will do everything in their power to ensure maximum ease of travel for Spanish and European citizens who – and it is important to emphasise this – are not affected by the reintroduction of air and sea border controls,” concludes Chigi.
Madrid’s position
The checks were introduced following the massive influx of migrants into Ceuta. According to the Spanish government, the temporary suspension of free movement for travellers between the two countries – in force since last Saturday – ‘is hampering the mobility of thousands of people and creating legal uncertainty in the middle of the summer season’. “This measure, unprecedented in recent history, was adopted without warning, unilaterally and on the basis of specious arguments that are incompatible both with the Schengen Borders Code and with the truth.”
In this regard, the Spanish government emphasises that Italy is ignoring the fact that ‘none of the migrants who entered Ceuta illegally last week could or can enter the Schengen area freely, as the autonomous city enjoys special status within it’ and that ‘virtually all of them have already returned to Morocco’.
