Following a diplomatic standoff over migrants, Italy-France border controls have been tightened.
France has sent 500 extra border officers to ten different Italian border crossing points.
The influx of French personnel follows Italy’s refusal to allow a private humanitarian rescue ship to dock in one of its ports.
Lines formed at border crossings beginning on Sunday as police stopped ‘nearly every car’ and searched many.
The French government has promised “serious” passport checks for anyone attempting to cross the border.
Because of the increased Italy-France border security, crossing into France may take longer than usual. Travelers should consider leaving earlier than planned and be prepared to wait in a car line.
What is the rationale behind France’s increased border controls with Italy?
The standoff follows a diplomatic spat over migrants.
Thousands of migrants attempt to cross from North Africa to southern Italy each year. 1,200 of these people tragically drowned in the first eight months of 2022.
Private humanitarian rescue ships search the oceans between continents for small boats.
The Ocean Viking charity rescue ship saved 234 migrants, including 57 children, as they attempted to reach Catania in Sicily last month.
However, Italy refused to let the ship dock for three weeks, forcing the ship to sail to France.
The French government called Italy’s failure to assist the ship “irresponsible” and “inhumane,” accusing the right-wing Italian government of a “breach of trust.”
Giorgia Meloni, the new Italian prime minister, was elected on the promise of halting the flow of migrants between Africa and Italy.
However, in response to the dispute, France has decided to halt plans to accept 3,500 asylum seekers who are currently in Italy. This plan was part of a European “solidarity mechanism” for migrant sharing.
“Italy is not keeping a fundamental commitment to the European solidarity mechanism,” said French government spokesman Olivier Veran on Sunday.