All travellers reaching Italy between June 5 and June 18 will be subject to internal border controls, due to the next summit of the Leaders of the G7 Member States, that will take place in Borgo Egnazia in Puglia.
The decision has been announced in a statement issued on May 31 by the Italian Ministry of the Interior, which has pointed out that temporary internal border controls will be reintroduced at Italy’s national land, sea and air borders, SchengenNews reports.
On the occasion of the next summit of the Leaders of the G7 Member States, which will take place in Borgo Egnazia in Puglia, from June 13 to 15, the national land, sea and air borders, as per consolidated practice by the States on the occasion of similar events, will be temporarily subject to controls.
The same has also noted that the suspension of the ordinary regime of freedom of movement to Italy, which will last for a period of two weeks, is based on the articles 25 and 27 of EU Regulation 2016/399.
The restoration of border controls will take place from 2.00 pm on June 5to 2.00 pm on June 18, 2024.
Italy’s Existing Temporary Border Controls
Listing Italy amongst the other countries with reintroduced temporary border controls, the EU Commission’s Migration and Home Affairs has revealed that Italy has considered it necessary to undertake such a measure due to risk of terrorist and violent activity, and fears of disruption of public order and security that might take place before and during the G7 summit.
Currently, Italy has internal border controls at its land border with Slovenia, which were introduced back on January 19, under the argument that there is an increased threat of violence within the EU following the attack on Israel, as well as the risk of possible terrorist infiltration into irregular migration flows from the Balkan route.
The measure, which was set to expire on June 19, has recently been extended until December 18, this year.
Border Controls Aiding Italy in Preventing Thousands of Foreigners From Entering Irregularly
In March this year, commenting on the efficiency of border controls with Slovenia, the Italian Minister of Interior Affairs, Matteo Piantedosi has said that the measure helped stop 2,200 foreigners from entering the country irregularly, between October 2023, and March 2024.
Since last October 21, the date of the restoration of border controls, 2,200 irregular foreigners have been traced and, of these, more than 1,330 have been rejected. The Italian Police Force also arrested 118 people, of which 65 for aiding and abetting illegal immigration.
Between January 1 and March 22, 2024, the Ministry has reported the arrival of 9,479 migrants, which is 43 per cent fewer than in the same period in 2023, when 20,364 reached the country.
