Italy and Spain set to drop suspension of Schengen rules

(ANSA) - ROME, 16 OTT - Italy is set to extend its suspension of the Schengen Agreement for travellers arriving from Spain for seven days, bringing into line with the expiration date of Madrid's tit-for-tat measure and a sign that a solution is in sight, government sources said on Friday. The two countries' interior ministers will have discussions on eliminating the border checks in the coming days, sources said. Spanish sources said Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez discussed the issue on the sidelines of the EU summit on Thursday and agreed to revoke the suspensions. Italy first reintroduced air and sea border controls for travellers arriving from Spain on August 1st for a month after the Ceuta migration crisis, saying it was necessary for security reasons. Spain responded with random checks on travellers coming from Italy and both countries have extended the checks several times since. Madrid and Italy's opposition parties blasted Rome's initial suspension of Schengen arrangements with Spain as propaganda, given that entry to the exclave of Ceuta does not automatically give access to the Schengen area and that Italy does not border Spain. (ANSA).
Read article...