Spain-Italy Dispute Escalates, Spain Imposes Border Checks on All Arrivals from Italy

Madrid: A dispute between Spain and Italy over irregular migration has intensified, with Spain introducing border checks on passengers arriving from Italy by air and sea.

The measures came into effect at midnight on Friday and will remain in place initially until September 7. Spanish authorities will conduct passport, nationality and visa checks on passengers arriving from Italy, citing continued irregular migration pressure.

Spain’s decision follows Italy’s introduction of similar restrictions a week earlier on non-EU nationals arriving from Spain. Rome imposed the measures after around 78,000 migrants arrived in Spain’s North African exclave of Ceuta from Morocco.

Italy has argued that the temporary suspension of parts of the Schengen arrangements is necessary to prevent migrants who entered Ceuta from travelling onward to Italy and other European countries. Rome has said the restrictions will remain in force at least until August 15.

Madrid rejected Italy’s justification, describing it as unfounded, and on Friday demanded that Rome withdraw its checks by Sunday. Italy, however, rejected the demand, saying it would not accept any “ultimatums” and would maintain the measures until security and terrorism-related risks had been eliminated.

The dispute has brought Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni into a sharper political confrontation. Meloni has long advocated tougher European Union policies to control irregular migration.

Meanwhile, most of the migrants who entered Ceuta last week were returned to Morocco within several days, although around 1,400 minors remain in the Spanish territory.

Spain has not officially confirmed expectations of another major influx from Morocco, although social media activity suggesting preparations for another crossing attempt has prompted authorities to closely monitor the situation.

Italy’s decision to temporarily suspend Schengen arrangements has received support from Finland and Denmark, while the Czech Republic has called for Spain’s Schengen membership to be temporarily suspended.

The latest developments have renewed debate within the European Union over the Schengen free-movement system, border security and the bloc’s approach to irregular migration.

Ceuta and Spain’s other North African exclave, Melilla, have long been a source of diplomatic tension between Spain and Morocco, which does not recognise Spanish sovereignty over the territories. The latest migration crisis has now added a new layer of tension to relations between Spain, Italy and other European countries over migration and border controls.