Italy gave provisional residence permits to thousands of Tunisian migrants. The permits allow them to travel freely in many European countries. The Italian foreign ministry said the French move was unlawful and in clear infringement of general European principles.
Maurizio Furia, a spokesman for the Italian rail company, said that trains were not being allowed to pass into Menton, France, from the Italian border station of Ventimiglia.
The authorities in France assert migrants have to prove they can hold up themselves financially and has set up patrols on the Italian border.
But Italy authorities assert that France’s actions are in violation of the EU’s Schengen passport-free travel zone.
“We have given the migrants travel documents, and we gave everything (else) that is needed, and the European Commission recognised that, it has said that Italy is following the Schengen rules,” Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said in an interview on Italy’s Sky TG24 TV.
Italy and other European countries have been increasingly concerned about migration from North Africa following the political turmoil in the region.
Earlier this month, Italy and France agreed to launch sea and air patrols to try to prevent the influx of thousands of people from Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.