Advertisement

Italians angered after Switzerland closes border crossings at night

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
Italians angered after Switzerland closes border crossings at night
A Swiss-Italian border point. File photo: David Abercrombie

Italy said on Tuesday that it had summoned Switzerland's ambassador after Swiss authorities implemented overnight closures of three small border crossings.

Advertisement

Ambassador Giancarlo Kessler said the closure of the border posts in the southern canton of Ticino was an experimental measure to test whether it improved cooperation between the neighbouring countries' police forces, according to a statement from the Italian foreign ministry.
   
The shutdowns would be re-evaluated soon, Kessler added.
   
Italy and Switzerland are both members of Europe's Schengen passport-free zone.
   
Since Saturday, the Novazzano-Marcetto, Pedrinate and Ponte Cremenaga crossings have been shut from 11pm until 5am.
   
Switzerland's Tribune de Geneve newspaper reported that the closures were designed to cut cross-border crime, particularly burglaries, and that the measure would be in force for six months.
   
Local mayors on the Italian side of the border -- many of whose residents work in Switzerland -- have been angered by the decision, while Ticino security officials acknowledged that break-ins dropped last year.
   
Italy meanwhile on Tuesday reiterated its demand that Switzerland cease "as quickly as possible" its criminal record checks on Italian cross-border workers, with the foreign ministry saying: "As the Swiss have recognized, this represents a violation of the (Schengen) agreement on free circulation."
   
Kessler said Switzerland was looking to put in place measures that were more compatible with European rules, according to the ministry.
 

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also