Italy Suspends Schengen Treaty with Spain, Reintroduces Airport Controls

Italy has temporarily suspended the Schengen treaty with Spain, leading to the reintroduction of border controls at major Italian airports including Fiumicino, Malpensa, and Linate.

The decision, effective immediately and lasting for one month, involves selective checks on passengers arriving from Spain. These controls primarily target third-country nationals (non-EU citizens) to verify their documentation for circulation within the Schengen area. The operational measures began the evening before the announcement, with checks conducted swiftly at boarding gates.

Airport authorities and border police confirmed that the checks are "selective." Passengers arriving from Spain will undergo document verification. Only in cases of anomalies or suspicion will individuals be subjected to further scrutiny. For travelers departing from Italy to Spain, no changes are expected.

Fiumicino Airport, which handles an average of 55 flights daily from Spain during the summer season, has posted notices informing passengers about the temporary reintroduction of "sample" checks at internal Schengen borders for arrivals from Spain. Passengers are advised to travel with a valid travel document. Controls at Milan's Malpensa and Linate airports are focused on flights arriving from Madrid, Seville, Malaga, and Alicante. So far, no critical issues have been reported.