Italy-bound Pinoys advised about Schengen visa suspension

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos traveling to Italy this July should expect a temporary suspension of the Schengen visa agreement from June 18 to July 15 for the upcoming Group of Eight (G8) meeting in Italy, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday.

"This means that there will be police control in the borders that Italy shares with Schengen countries," a DFA advisory said, citing an announcement by Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni.

Italy is hosting the Group of Eight meeting in L’Aquila from July 8 to July 10.

The Schengen accord permits passport-free travel between nationals of 25 European countries.

The DFA quoted Maroni as saying the suspension of the agreement is “not to prevent demonstrations, but to block the arrival of those violent people who would like to come to Italy to hit policemen and crack people’s (skulls)."

He said the Italian government had warned European Union member countries of its plans to suspend the accord.

"Minister Maroni stressed that the suspension is in keeping with general EU practice for the G8 and other important events. It may be noted that Italy suspended the agreement in 2001 during a G8 meeting held in Genoa," the DFA said.

Other Schengen countries had also suspended the agreement in the past. France suspended the agreement five times since 1995 as a measure against terrorism, while Belgium did the same during the European Football Championship to prevent hooliganism.

Spain also suspended the treaty in May 2004 as a security measure for the wedding of Prince Felipe, the DFA said. - GMANews.TV

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