Italy summons Swiss ambassador over closed borders

The Italian foreign ministry has summoned the Swiss ambassador to Rome for urgent talks after Switzerland closed three minor border crossings at night in an apparent crime-fighting measure. A statement released on Tuesday night by Italy’s foreign ministry cited Swiss Ambassador Giancarlo Kessler as saying the measure was a temporary experiment and would be reviewed in light of improved border security collaboration. Since Saturday, the border crossings at Novazzano-Marcetto and Pedrinate, near Como, and Ponte Cremenaga, near Lake Maggiore in southern canton Ticino have been closed from 11pm to 5am every day. According to the Tribune de Genève newspaper, this measure was taken to combat cross-border crime, in particular burglaries, and it should remain in place for six months. Switzerland, unlike Italy, is not a member of the European Union but has signed up to the passport-free Schengen zone and free movement of persons accords. During the Tuesday meeting, ...

Afficher l'article...