Spain imposes border checks on Italy as migrant showdown grows
Spain announced on Friday it would introduce temporary border checks on travellers from Italy in response to Rome imposing similar measures after a mass migrant rush into Ceuta.
In response to Italy's refusal to lift border controls, Spain has announced it will begin conducting random checks on air and sea travel from Italy. Starting at midnight on Saturday, these checks are set to continue until September 7, according to Spain's state broadcaster RTVE. The checks aim to verify the identity and nationality of travelers, and for non-EU citizens, their visa or residence permit.
This move comes as a result of Spain's "persistent pressure of irregular migration" from Italy, a situation exacerbated by the Ceuta migration crisis. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has stated that her country will not bow to any ultimatums, emphasizing that Italy will maintain its border checks until security and terrorism risks are fully addressed.
Italy's refusal to lift border controls has led to Italy suspending the Schengen Agreement, which governs the free movement of people within the EU, specifically in relation to Spain. This measure affects travelers from non-EU countries, with a particular focus on thorough screening for those not holding EU citizenship.
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