AssetID: 55959929
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Italy Extends Schengen Border Checks With Spain For 15 Days Over Ceuta Tensions
Caption: Italy Extends Schengen Border Checks With Spain For 15 Days Over Ceuta Tensions. Italy has extended border checks on travellers arriving from Spain for another 15 days amid continuing concerns over the migrant situation in Ceuta. The controls were introduced after at least 72,000 migrants from Morocco entered the Spanish territory of Ceuta last month. Italy’s Interior Ministry said it was notifying the EU of the extension of checks at the country's air and sea borders with Spain. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said the situation in Ceuta remained "anything but improved," with an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 irregular migrants still in the city. Piantedosi discussed the extension with his Spanish counterpart, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, during what Rome described as a constructive phone call. The Italian government said the checks apply only to third-country nationals and do not affect Italian, Spanish or other European citizens. Piantedosi insisted Italy did not want a confrontation with Madrid but said continuing tensions in Ceuta justified maintaining the controls. Spanish Foreign Minister Manuel Albares criticised Italy's measures as an "unjustified and unjustifiable affront" and accused Rome of acting for electoral reasons. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Italy,Spain,Schengen,Ceuta,tensions,Giorgia Meloni,Matteo Piantedosi,Fernando Grande-Marlaska,migrants,Foreign Minister,Manuel Albares,checks,border
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