Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni\u2019s office said Friday that Italy will not meet the August 9 deadline set by Spain to end selective border checks on travelers arriving by air and sea from Spain. <\/p>\n
Rome suspended its Schengen arrangements with Spain following the arrival of thousands of migrants at the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta last week, ANSA<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n “Italy<\/a> does not accept ultimatums or impositions from abroad about national security and border control,” the statement said.<\/p>\n “We have no intention of reconsidering the decision to suspend the application of the Schengen Agreement for third-country nationals arriving from Spain, at least until August 15, and, in any case, until security and terrorism risks for Italy have been completely eliminated.<\/p>\n “On that date, as announced by the Spanish authorities themselves, a new wave of migrants is expected in Ceuta.<\/p>\n “Only when we are certain that there will be no security or terrorist risks for Italy, that there will be no new wave, and that there are no irregular migrants heading towards European territory, will we be able to review the decisions already made.<\/p>\n “This is not done out of prejudice towards a friend country like Spain, as it is like similar decisions taken in the past by the Italian government towards Slovenia, for example, and by (other) European governments towards Italy and Spain itself.<\/p>\n “If all these conditions cease to exist, Italy is ready to continue a constructive dialogue with the Madrid government.<\/p>\n “In the meantime, the Italian border authorities will do everything to ensure maximum accessibility for Spanish and European citizens who, it is important to emphasize, are not affected by the reinstatement of air and sea border controls”.<\/p>\n