Italy is considering alternative measures at its border with Slovenia to ensure security and combat irregular migration instead of suspending the Schengen free-movement rules.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said during a meeting with Slovenian Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer on Tuesday that agreed measures could replace the Schengen arrangements at the border after the current extension expires. The current extension of the border controls will expire on December 18.
Joint police force under consideration
Tajani said they were considering establishing a joint police force as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. He said the arrangement could be similar to the system currently in place on the border between Italy and France, adding that he had discussed the issue with Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi.
Kajzer welcomed the possibility of closer cooperation. The Slovenian minister said the border between the two countries was an area for cooperation and new opportunities.
Temporary controls also extended on the Italy-Spain route
Tajani said Italy's border measures were not directed against any country and were intended to address security concerns and irregular migration. Emphasizing that this was not a political stance, Tajani argued that the security situation required the protection of national borders.
On Tuesday, Italy also extended temporary checks on travelers arriving from Spain, citing security concerns and the risk of terrorist infiltration. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares criticized the decision as “absurd, useless and shameful.”
The decision followed the passage of tens of thousands of people from Morocco to Ceuta on July 30-31, according to estimates by the Spanish government.
