Spain imposes border checks on Italian travellers amid migrant dispute
Spain on Saturday introduced temporary border checks on travellers arriving from Italy, escalating a dispute between the EU partners over migration. The move follows Italy’s decision to impose similar controls after more than 70,000 migrants crossed into Spain’s Ceuta enclave from Morocco, most of whom later returned.
Spain has introduced temporary border checks on travellers arriving from Italy, amid a dispute between the two EU countries over migration. The move follows Italy's decision to impose similar controls after a large influx of migrants into Spain's Ceuta enclave from Morocco. According to the South China Morning Post, over 70,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta, with most later returning.
The border checks, which started at midnight on Saturday, will last until September 7. Travellers from Italy will be subject to random checks at ports and airports to verify their identity, nationality, and visa or residence permit, if applicable. The Spanish government cited the "persistent pressure of irregular migration" as the reason for the checks.
The dispute between Spain and Italy has been ongoing, with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni refusing to lift the border checks, which were imposed in response to the migration crisis in Ceuta. According to MyJoyOnline Ghana, Italy will maintain its checks until at least August 15, citing security and terrorism risks. The row has pitted Spain's socialist leader Pedro Sanchez against Italy's conservative leader Giorgia Meloni, who has long called for stricter EU migration rules.
Brief written by urgent.news from France 24, Le Monde English, Global News, South China Morning Post, MyJoyOnline Ghana — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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