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Italy will keep its suspension of the Schengen Agreement with Spain in place until potential security risks have completely disappeared, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said Thursday, ruling out any reconsideration of the measure before Aug. 15.
Piantedosi told parliament's Schengen Commission that Rome was closely following developments after a surge in migrant arrivals in Ceuta, Spain's North African enclave.
"We are carefully monitoring the evolution of the situation," Piantedosi said, adding that the suspension would only be lifted once security risks for Italy had "completely disappeared."
Piantedosi rejected claims that the Italian government was using the situation for political purposes against Madrid, maintaining that its "sole objective" was to protect national security.
He also said Italy's decision complied fully with European Union law and pointed out that other European countries had previously brought in similar measures, including controls affecting Italy.
At the same time, Piantedosi accused Madrid of responding to Rome's move with a measure based on what he described as "a substantially retaliatory logic."
Under Schengen rules, participating countries may temporarily bring back controls at their internal borders when they determine that a serious threat to public policy or internal security exists.
Italy has said its measure involving Spain will remain in force until those security concerns have been ruled out.
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