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Italy Extends Schengen Checks on Spanish Travelers by Seven Days

By Drooid · Oct 16, 2026, 4:52 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Italy extends Schengen suspension

Italy will extend its suspension of Schengen checks on Spanish travelers by seven days.
Spain has prolonged its air and sea checks on Italian travelers until Oct. 22.
Italy’s interior minister and Spain’s interior minister will meet in the coming days to discuss ending the checks.
Opposition parties in Madrid and Rome criticized the Schengen suspension as propaganda.

Summary

Italy, Spain conduct checks

Italy and Spain checked almost 500,000 people in the first month, refusing 31 entrants.
Random checks occur at airports and ports because the two countries share no land border.
Interior ministers Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Matteo Piantedosi will meet this week to discuss substitute cooperation measures.
Several EU countries warn the Schengen suspension could become a pull-factor attracting more irregular migrants.

History

Historical Context

After the 2015 migrant surge that saw Frontex log 1.3 million irregular arrivals and prompted the EU-Turkey deal of 29 November 2015 with a €3 billion aid package, several states erected barriers and re-imposed border checks. Today Italy’s interior minister Matteo Piantedosi and Spain’s Fernando Grande-Marlaska are extending Schengen suspensions and scrutinising nearly 500,000 travelers, echoing those earlier emergency measures.

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Italy extends Schengen suspension

Italy will extend its suspension of Schengen checks on Spanish travelers by seven days.
Spain has prolonged its air and sea checks on Italian travelers until Oct. 22.
Italy’s interior minister and Spain’s interior minister will meet in the coming days to discuss ending the checks.
Opposition parties in Madrid and Rome criticized the Schengen suspension as propaganda.

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