Defend EU's external border to save Schengen - Meloni (2)

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 25 - Premier Giorgia Meloni said Wednesday that the EU must take action to defend its external border to save the Schengen free-movement area.
    Addressing the Senate before this week's European summit, Meloni said there was a "clear risk" that Schengen "could be shattered".
    Italy has suspended Schengen and reimposed controls at its border with Slovenia after the outbreak of war between Hamas and Israel and the recent terrorist attacks in France and Belgium.
    Several other EU countries have also brought back checks at some frontiers.
    "The intelligence services have confirmed that the greatest (security) risks for us can come from the Balkan route (to the EU)" Meloni said "This is the reason that has led the government to act promptly by suspending Schengen and restoring controls with Slovenia".
    (ANSA).