Spain imposes border checks on Italian travellers in tit-for-tat move

Madrid, August 9 — Spain has implemented border checks on travelers from Italy, retaliating against Italy's similar measures following a surge of migrants into Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa. Italian tourist Maria Celeste Grillo, 36, expressed disappointment that she did not notice any additional checks upon disembarking at Madrid's airport, but acknowledged their implementation as "sad."

Spain's decision to introduce heightened controls stems from what it claims is persistent irregular migration pressure in Italy, escalating an escalating dispute between EU partners and NATO allies. The left-wing Spanish government has criticized Italy's hard-right administration for imposing one month of border checks on Spanish travelers on July 31, suspending the Schengen Area's visa-free travel 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. European nations, particularly right-wing governments, have called for stricter rules on irregular migrants. The EU's migration chief, Magnus Brunner, spoke with both Spanish and Italian interior ministers on Saturday, stating that the controls are temporary.

Brunner emphasized progress in combating illegal migration and expressed confidence that trust between member states would remain intact. Spanish authorities have assured that Ceuta events will not impact the Schengen area, and Italy reportedly signaled that controls might be lifted soon. Spain's interior ministry announced that the new checks on incoming Italian travelers would remain in effect until September 7.