Spain imposes Italy border checks amid escalating migrant row

Spain has introduced temporary border checks on flights and ferries arriving from Italy, escalating a diplomatic dispute over migration policy. The measures, effective until September 7 unless the situation changes, were a response to Italy's own restrictions imposed after a significant migrant influx into Spain's North African exclave of Ceuta.

The core of the conflict lies in differing approaches to migration and border control between Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Spain demanded Italy lift its checks, but Rome stated they would remain until at least mid-August, anticipating further migration towards Ceuta.

Italy, which does not share a land border with Spain, suspended parts of the Schengen agreement for non-EU nationals arriving from Spain. Rome's justification was to prevent migrants who entered Ceuta from traveling onward to Italy. Madrid rejected this, calling the arguments "spurious" and asserting that migrants entering Ceuta had no direct route into the Schengen area.

Rome further stated it would not accept "ultimatums" and maintained that the checks were necessary to address security and terrorism risks. While Spanish citizens are exempt, reports indicate some Italian airports have experienced long queues for passengers arriving from Spain, who are subjected to passport, nationality, and visa checks.

The recent surge of migrants into Ceuta, numbering around 78,000, remains unexplained, though criminal networks are suspected of spreading disinformation. The crossings followed a Spanish Supreme Court ruling that limited the immediate return of intercepted migrants to Morocco, a decision criticized by Morocco for potentially weakening deterrents.

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