Spain starts border checks on Italy after migrant row

Spain began implementing border checks for travelers arriving from Italy on Saturday (Aug 8), in response to Italy's similar measures imposed following a large influx of migrants into Ceuta, a Spanish North African territory. Italian tourist Maria Celeste Grillo, 36, said she did not notice any additional checks upon her arrival in Madrid, but found the implementation "sad."

Spain's heightened controls were announced on Friday, citing persistent irregular migration pressure on Italy. This deepens the ongoing dispute between the EU partners and NATO allies. The left-wing Spanish government expressed its discontent that Italy's right-wing administration unfairly imposed one month of border checks on travelers from Spain on July 31, suspending EU visa-free travel arrangements due to the Ceuta influx.

Over 70,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta on July 30 and 31, with most returning to Morocco within 48 hours. The inflow alarmed European nations, particularly right-wing governments, pushing for tougher rules on irregular migrants. However, Ceuta's rules require migrants to pass another layer of border checks before reaching continental Europe.

EU migration chief Magnus Brunner spoke to both the Spanish and Italian interior ministers on Saturday, confirming that the internal border controls are temporary. He emphasized the progress made in tackling illegal migration and stressed that trust between member states is "our most valuable currency."