Italy extends controls at Slovenian border for 5 additional months

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Italy had decided to extend controls on its border with Slovenia for five additional months, media reports said Wednesday.

EU authorities and the interior ministers of the member states were informed about the decision that will take effect Jan.19, said Italian state-run ANSA news agency, citing Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi.

“The decision is motivated by the continuing risk of possible terrorist infiltration among those arriving irregularly in Italy, and by the fact that the largest flows from the Balkan route transit from the land border with Slovenia,” added Piantedosi.

Italy reinstated border controls along its shared border with Slovenia on Oct. 21.

Slovenia reintroduced border controls with Croatia and Hungary on the same day.

Germany informed the European Union on Oct. 16 that temporary controls would be implemented at its land borders with Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland.