Around 78,000 migrants were reportedly involved in the influx, prompting renewed tensions over migration management and the movement of migrants within Europe
By Moses Okorie
Spain has tightened controls on travellers arriving from Italy by air and sea, in a retaliatory move that has deepened a dispute between the two European Union countries over irregular migration and border security.
The new restrictions took effect at midnight and will remain in place for up to a month, according to the Spanish government.
The move comes about a week after Italy imposed temporary border checks on travellers arriving from Spain, following a major influx of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish territory of Ceuta.
Around 78,000 migrants were reportedly involved in the influx, prompting renewed tensions over migration management and the movement of migrants within Europe.
Madrid had demanded that Rome withdraw its restrictions by Sunday. Italy, however, rejected the demand and said its checks would remain in place until at least August 15.
The Italian government said it was particularly concerned about the possibility of another influx into Ceuta around that date and maintained that the restrictions were necessary to address potential security and terrorism-related risks.
The dispute has brought Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni into a fresh confrontation over migration policy.
Meloni has consistently pushed for tougher measures against irregular migration and greater controls over Europe’s external borders.
Italy does not share a land border with Spain, but Rome said the temporary suspension of elements of the Schengen free-movement arrangement was intended to prevent migrants who had entered Ceuta from moving onward to Italy.
Spanish authorities rejected that explanation, arguing that migrants entering Ceuta had no direct route into the Schengen area and describing Italy’s justification as lacking a factual basis.
In response to Spain’s demand, Rome said it would not accept “ultimatums” and insisted that it had no plans to withdraw the measures before August 15.
Italian authorities have emphasised that Spanish citizens are not subject to the additional checks and that the restrictions mainly affect non-EU nationals travelling from Spain.
Despite assurances that officials are working to minimise disruption, reports have indicated that some Italian airports have experienced long queues, with passengers arriving from Spain directed to separate lines for additional screening.
Spain’s new measures will involve checks on passports, nationality and visa status for Italian travellers and other passengers arriving from Italy.
The Spanish government said the controls were being introduced amid continued irregular migration pressure and would remain in force until September 7, unless circumstances change sufficiently to warrant an earlier review.
The escalating dispute has placed renewed attention on the Schengen system, which allows passport-free travel across much of Europe, while exposing continuing disagreements among EU governments over migration, border controls and security.