Spain has announced it will impose border controls on all air and sea travel from Italy, marking a sharp escalation in a dispute between the two European Union member states. The measures, effective from midnight, will last for one month and come in response to Italy's earlier decision to suspend the Schengen Agreement following a massive influx of migrants into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta.
The crisis began when approximately 78,000 migrants from Morocco attempted to cross into Ceuta, prompting Italy to impose temporary border checks on travelers from Spain. Italy claimed the move was necessary to prevent migrants from entering its territory, but Spain dismissed this as "spurious arguments" lacking factual basis, noting that the migrants had no way to reach the Schengen area.
On Friday, Spain demanded Italy reverse its checks by Sunday, but Rome refused, stating it would not accept "ultimatums." The Italian government insisted the measures would remain in place until at least August 15, citing expected "new wave of migration" to Ceuta and ongoing security risks. The standoff has pitted Spain's socialist leader Pedro Sanchez against Italy's conservative leader Giorgia Meloni, who has long advocated for stricter EU migration rules.
The dispute has exposed deep divisions within the EU over migration policy. Italy's decision to suspend the Schengen Agreement was backed by Finland and Denmark, while the Czech Republic called for Spain's membership to be temporarily suspended. Spain's counter-measures, announced on Friday, include passport, nationality, and visa checks for Italian passengers and visitors from other countries arriving from Italy, citing "persistent irregular migratory pressure." The checks are set to remain until September 7, unless circumstances change.
The situation has caused significant disruption at airports, with long queues and delays reported for passengers arriving from Spain. Italian officials have said they are doing "everything possible" to ensure comfort for Spanish and other European citizens, but the additional checks have created bottlenecks. Spain has also not ruled out extending the measures if the dispute continues.
The migrant crossings into Ceuta have raised questions about Morocco's border controls and the role of disinformation. EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner suggested that criminal networks spreading disinformation were to blame, a claim the Spanish government endorsed. The crossings followed a Spanish Supreme Court ruling that migrants stopped at sea cannot be summarily returned to Morocco, which Morocco blamed for the crisis, stating that "the deterrent element of the system collapsed."
While most migrants were returned within days, nearly 1,400 minors remain in Ceuta, and there are concerns about a potential second wave. Social media activity by Moroccan users planning another attempt has fueled speculation, though Spain's prime minister's office said they do not expect a repeat of last week's scenes. The Ceuta and Melilla exclaves have long been a source of diplomatic tension between Spain and Morocco, which does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over them.
The escalating dispute highlights the challenges facing the EU in managing migration and internal border security. With both Spain and Italy refusing to back down, the conflict threatens to undermine the principle of free movement within the bloc. The EU has called for stronger borders, but the rift between member states suggests a lack of consensus on how to address the root causes of migration.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk