Spain Continues Border Controls for Travelers from Italy Amid Dispute Over Migrants in Ceuta

The diplomatic dispute between Spain and Italy, sparked by the sudden influx of tens of thousands of migrants to the Spanish territory of Ceuta, escalated today after the government in Madrid announced border controls for travelers from Italy, in response to Rome’s decision to impose sanctions on visitors from Spain.

Travelers from Italy arriving at Barcelona airport have been subjected to random police checks after these measures came into effect overnight, according to the Spanish agency EFE.

The Spanish government stated that the controls would remain in place for at least a month, after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni yesterday rejected Madrid’s warning that the country would take “proportionate measures to protect the interests and dignity of its citizens” if Rome did not lift its own restrictions by August 9.

On August 1, Italy began implementing air and sea border controls for Spanish nationals, following harsh criticism Meloni directed at the progressive migration policies of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

The conflict erupted after the unexpected arrival of 72,000 migrants from Morocco to the Spanish territory of Ceuta, which borders the African country.

Although most of the migrants have since returned, more than 80 have lost their lives, according to Spanish and Moroccan authorities.

The surge of migrants to Ceuta has also reignited the debate on immigration within the European Union (EU), whose leaders criticized Sánchez for policies they considered responsible for the mass influx.

The office of the Italian Prime Minister stated yesterday that the authorities “have no intention” of lifting border controls for people arriving from Spain by sea or air before August 15, six days after the Spanish deadline.

“Italy does not accept ultimatums or impositions from abroad regarding national security and border control,” the statement said.

If there is another influx of migrants to Ceuta, Italy would reconsider its decision to impose controls “only when we are certain that there will be no security or terrorist risks to Italy, that there will be no new wave, and that irregular migrants are not moving toward European territory,” the statement added.