Italy to Reinstate Border Controls for G7 Summit

All travelers entering Italy between June 5 and June 18 will face internal border controls due to the upcoming summit of the Leaders of the G7 Member States, which will take place in Borgo Egnazia, Puglia. This decision was announced in a statement issued on May 31 by the Italian Ministry of the Interior.

The Ministry noted that "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 suspension of the usual freedom of movement regime in Italy, set to last for two weeks, is based on Articles 25 and 27 of EU Regulation 2016/399. "The restoration of border controls will take place from 2.00 pm on June 5 to 2.00 pm on June 18, 2024," the Ministry confirmed.

The EU Commission’s Migration and Home Affairs has revealed that Italy reintroduced these temporary border controls due to concerns about terrorist and violent activities, as well as fears of disruptions to public order and security before and during the G7 summit.

Currently, Italy has temporary internal border controls at its land border with Slovenia. These controls were introduced on January 19 due to increased threats of violence within the EU following an attack on Israel and the risk of terrorist infiltration into irregular migration flows from the Balkan route. Initially set to expire on June 19, the measure has been extended until December 18 of this year.

In March, Italian Minister of Interior Affairs Matteo Piantedosi commented on the effectiveness of the border controls with Slovenia, stating that the measure had helped prevent 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," Piantedosi said.

From January 1 to March 22, 2024, the Ministry reported the arrival of 9,479 migrants, which is 43 percent fewer than in the same period in 2023, when 20,364 migrants reached the country.

By fLEXI tEAM