Spain imposes border checks on Italy over migrant dispute

Spain began imposing border checks on travelers arriving from Italy on Saturday. This action escalates a diplomatic dispute between the two European Union partners. Spain's government stated the heightened controls are a response to "persistent irregular migration pressure" facing Italy.

The move follows similar measures Rome implemented after an unprecedented influx of migrants into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta. Spanish officials complained that Italy's hard-right government unfairly imposed one month of border checks on travelers from Spain on July 31, suspending the EU's Schengen Area visa-free travel. This was in reaction to more than 70,000 migrants crossing into Ceuta from Morocco on July 30 and 31.

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I don’t see a lot of the word ‘diplomacy’ used in these decisions, not by the Italian government, nor by the Spanish government.

One Italian tourist described the situation as "sad," noting a lack of "diplomacy" in the governments' decisions. The new Spanish checks on travelers from Italy are set to remain in place until September 7. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges and disagreements among EU nations regarding the management of irregular migration.

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sad