According to the latest notification, Italy will maintain controls at the land border with Slovenia from 19 December 2025 to 18 June 2026. The government cited several reasons, including the persistent risk of terrorist infiltration via migration routes, rising irregular migration, and the activities of smuggling and human-trafficking networks.
The European Commission noted that Rome also pointed to wider security pressures – from instability in the Middle East and Ukraine to challenges linked to the Catholic Church’s Universal Jubilee and the upcoming Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Although border checks are meant to remain a last-resort, time-limited measure under Schengen rules, they are increasingly becoming part of a prolonged strategy in several EU member states.
The Netherlands has also extended controls
In November, the Netherlands likewise announced that its temporary checks would continue until 8 June 2026. The Minister for Asylum and Migration, David van Weel, argued that the extension is necessary to safeguard public order and prevent the national asylum system from becoming overwhelmed.
While the Dutch government maintains there is no evidence that the current controls significantly disrupt trade flows, the transport sector takes a different view. Haulage associations have been warning for months that the checks – even if selective – are causing noticeable delays and additional costs.
