Spain begins border checks with Italy following migrant crisis

Spain began implementing temporary border controls on travelers arriving from Italy on Saturday, a reciprocal measure following similar actions taken by the Italian government. The Spanish Ministry of the Interior stated that these random checks would affect air and sea connections and extend until September 7.

The controls will be applied to all individuals crossing the affected internal air or maritime borders, regardless of nationality. The Ministry explained that the checks would correspond to the legal status of each traveler. Maria Celeste Grillo, a 36-year-old tourist arriving at Madrid's Barajas Airport, expressed disappointment, lamenting the lack of "diplomacy" in the decisions made by both governments.

Spanish authorities justified the measure by citing the "persistent irregular migratory pressure" faced by Italy, which receives thousands of migrants annually by sea from North Africa. This action is seen as Spain's response to the restrictive measures and criticism from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni directed at the Spanish government concerning the migrant crisis in Ceuta. In May, over 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco via sea and land in a short period, many of whom subsequently moved on.

The influx of migrants into Ceuta reignited the debate on immigration within the European Union, with some EU leaders criticizing Spain's policies, suggesting they contributed to the large arrival numbers. Despite the surprise and inconvenience caused by the new restrictions, passengers on approximately 250 flights from Italy faced no major issues. They were required to show their documents upon disembarking, either at the jet bridge, on the tarmac, or directly on the plane.

Traveler experiences varied, with some reporting being stopped immediately after exiting the aircraft to present identification. "It's a bit unusual because we are not accustomed to controls within the EU," one traveler commented, highlighting the novelty of such checks within the Schengen Area.

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I don't really see the word diplomacy used in these decisions, neither by the Italian government nor by the Spanish government.