Spain has imposed border controls on all air and sea travel from Italy, effective for one month. This measure began at midnight GMT and targets Italian passengers and other visitors arriving from Italy. The Spanish government cited "persistent irregular migratory pressure" as the reason for these new checks.
This action comes one week after Italy introduced similar restrictions. Italy's initial move followed an influx of approximately 78,000 migrants from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta. The Italian government stated its restrictions aimed to prevent these migrants from traveling onward to Italy.
This dispute highlights broader tensions within the European Union regarding migration policy. Italy's conservative leader, Giorgia Meloni, has consistently advocated for stricter EU migration rules. Spain's socialist leader, Pedro Sanchez, finds himself at odds with this stance. The temporary suspension of the border-free Schengen arrangement by Italy was supported by Finland and Denmark, while the Czech Republic called for Spain's membership to be temporarily suspended.
Madrid had demanded Italy reverse its checks by Sunday, August 4. Rome, however, insisted its measures would remain until at least August 15. Italy stated this was because Spain "expects a new wave of migration" to hit Ceuta around that time. Spanish officials dismissed Italy's position as based on "spurious arguments" lacking factual basis. They argued that migrants entering Ceuta had no way of entering the Schengen area.
Italy's government responded to Spain's threat by stating it would not accept "ultimatums." It affirmed its decision to suspend the Schengen Agreement for third-country nationals arriving from Spain. This suspension would last until at least August 15, or until security and terrorist risks for Italy were completely eliminated. Italian officials confirmed that Spanish citizens are exempt from these additional checks.
The counter-measures imposed by Madrid include passport, nationality, and visa checks for Italian passengers. These checks will remain in place until September 7, unless circumstances change. Temporary suspensions of the Schengen agreement are not unprecedented; Italy also maintains controls on its border with Slovenia.
The recent migrant influx into Ceuta has raised questions about its origins. EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner suggested criminal networks spreading disinformation were to blame. The Spanish government agreed with this assessment. The crossings occurred after Spain's Supreme Court ruled against summarily returning migrants stopped at sea. Morocco, for its part, attributed the crisis to this court decision.
The large number of people swimming to Ceuta simultaneously also raised concerns about Morocco's border control efforts. The Spanish prime minister's office is monitoring the situation but does not anticipate a repeat of last week's events. However, BBC Arabic found numerous Facebook posts calling for a second crossing in mid-August, some advertising swimming equipment. Meta has since removed posts violating its policy.
The exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla have long been a point of diplomatic contention between Spain and Morocco. Morocco does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over these territories. This ongoing dispute over migration and border control underscores significant challenges to European unity and policy coordination.