Migration: Spain and Italy mutually control entries

In the dispute between Spain and Italy over the handling of migrants, the two EU partners have returned to border controls - as in the times before the Schengen Agreement on free travel in Europe.

On the instructions of the left-wing government in Madrid, Spain has also been checking arrivals from the other country at ports and airports since Saturday.

The regulation is initially set to apply until September 7.

Italy's right-wing government has already been dealing with travelers from Spain in the same way since the beginning of the month.

The trigger was the temporary flight of tens of thousands of African migrants to the Spanish exclave of Ceuta in Morocco.

Rome argues that its borders must therefore be protected particularly well.

Behind the decisions are Italy's right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Spain's left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, whose relationship was already considered tense beforehand.

Complaints from the tourism industry

At first glance, the checks at ports and airports seem to be rather superficial and symbolic, at least for EU citizens.

However, the tourism industry has complained that they are burdening businesses in the middle of the summer travel season.

Millions of tourists travel to each other's countries every year - around 5.4 million Italians to Spain and more than 3.2 million Spaniards to Italy.

Madrid had introduced the controls on Friday evening after Meloni had refused to lift the one-sided border controls.

The chairwoman of the right-wing party Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) made it clear that she would not be persuaded to change her mind, even by a Spanish ultimatum.

"Italy does not accept ultimatums or specifications from abroad regarding national security and border control."

Now, in both countries, checks are being carried out on entry.

In Italy, this is set to apply until August 15.

Italian vacationer in Madrid: showing passport is enough

However, there are different reports on how this affects practice.

At Madrid airport, a traveler from Italy told the Spanish TV station RTVE that it had been announced on the plane that they could only leave the plane with identification.

Spanish officials had then stood in front of the plane - but nothing more.

"The policeman saw that we had a passport. He didn't check it, just saw that we had it, and that's why we were let through."

On the other hand, the Italian Tourism Association Fiavet reported significant problems.

"There are queues, impairments in services and connections with car rental companies. Anyone who runs a travel agency already has problems with customers."

The Tourism Ministry in Rome stated that the controls only affected non-EU citizens.

"The tourism industry is completely unaffected by this matter."

Madrid speaks of "torpedo" against European unity

From a Spanish perspective, the border controls imposed by Italy are unfair, contrary to the interests of the EU, and discriminatory.

Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares described Italy's actions as a "torpedo below the waterline of European unity".

Meloni had introduced the measure after the influx of more than 70,000 migrants to the Spanish exclave Ceuta.

In the meantime, almost all refugees have returned to Morocco.

During the Italian border controls, not a single arrival was stopped in the first few days.

There are also no indications that any of the migrants from Ceuta have made their way to Italy.

They are not even allowed on the Spanish mainland.

Meloni was elected in 2022 with the promise of taking a tough stance against unwanted migration.

Next year, elections will take place in Italy again.

According to Italian media reports, Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani from the center-right party Forza Italia wanted to try to defuse the dispute with Madrid.

However, the other two coalition partners in Rome - Meloni's party Fratelli d'Italia and the right-wing party Lega - had advocated a tough course against Madrid.

Rome and Madrid pursue a very different approach to migration policy.