ROME (Reuters) - Controls at the border between Italy and Slovenia will continue this month, Rome's parliament minister said on Thursday, and the government could decide to further extend their duration.
Italy reinstated police checks at the border in its northeast as of Oct. 21 for an initial 10 days, suspending the free movement normally allowed within most of the European Union under the Schengen treaty.
Last month, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said the border checks were likely to be extended into next year, citing the risk of terrorists among the migrants in transit on the Balkan route.
Ciriani said 10 people had so far been arrested on charges of aiding and abetting illegal immigration as a result of the controls.
(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte; Writing by Angelo Amante; Editing by Keith Weir)
Persons:
Luca Ciriani, Matteo Piantedosi, Ciriani, Giuseppe Fonte, Angelo Amante, Keith Weir
Organizations:
European Union, Hamas, Slovenian
Locations:
ROME, Italy, Slovenia, Israel, France, Belgium, Rome, Croatian, Italian