- Italy extends border checks on Spanish travellers for 15 days
- Controls apply to maritime ports and airports
- Dispute began after 72,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta
- Spain implements reciprocal border checks on Italy
- European Commission notified of measures
Italy has extended temporary random border checks on travelers arriving from Spain by air and sea for an additional 15 days amid an ongoing diplomatic feud over migration policy. The tensions began after more than 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish North African territory of Ceuta in late July. Citing high internal security risks, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government initially suspended the free-movement Schengen Agreement for maritime and air arrivals from Spain starting 1 August.
Because Italy and Spain do not share a land border, the controls apply strictly to maritime ports and airports handling transportation services arriving from Spain. Authorities conduct random police and passport checks on passengers. The Italian Interior Ministry stated that the extension is required because high risks to internal security persist.
In a tit-for-tat response to Rome’s original order, Spain implemented its own random border checks on passengers arriving from Italy. Alongside Italy’s announcement, the Spanish foreign ministry confirmed that Madrid is also extending its reciprocal border curbs for another 15 days. The European Commission has been notified of the measures.
