ROME: Italy has temporarily suspended Schengen free-travel arrangements with Spain following a mass influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco, the Italian Interior Ministry said.
Under the temporary measures, travelers arriving in Italy from Spain by air or sea will be required to present passports or other valid travel documents, restoring border identity checks between the two countries.
The move comes after tens of thousands of migrants crossed into Ceuta, Spain’s North African enclave, from Morocco. The large-scale crossing reportedly resulted in dozens of deaths, prompting European authorities to tighten border controls and review migration measures.
The Schengen Agreement allows passport-free travel across most participating European countries by eliminating routine internal border checks.
Member states, however, may temporarily reinstate border controls under exceptional circumstances, including security concerns or major migration events.
Italian authorities did not specify how long the temporary measures would remain in place.