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Malta to continue imposing border control by end of 2015

Xinhua, November 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

Malta is to continue imposing border controls for at least 30 days after the 2015 Commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM 2015) ends, a government spokesman said on Wednesday.

The archipelago introduced border controls for all passengers on Nov. 3 as a precautionary measure for the Valletta summit on migration and CHOGM 2015. The Maltese government notified the European Commission of its decision to suspend the Schengen border code.

The suspension was expected to expire on Nov. 29 but the government has invoked a clause in the Schengen regulations that allows for the reintroduction of temporary border controls "where there is a serious threat to public policy or internal security."

The announcement came two days after Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced the extension of border controls beyond November as "a precautionary measure."

Last week, seven Syrians with fake passports heading to Malta were caught in two Italian airports respectively, but the Maltese government reiterated that there were no specific or general threats affecting Malta. Endit