{
  "id": 314434,
  "title": "Migration: Spain and Italy mutually control entries",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/migration-spanien-und-italien-kontrollieren-einreisen-gegenseitig",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-08T15:49:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/migration-spanien-und-italien-kontrollieren-einreisen-gegenseitig/100245958.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "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.\n\nOn 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.\n\nThe regulation is initially set to apply until September 7.\n\nItaly's right-wing government has already been dealing with travelers from Spain in the same way since the beginning of the month.\n\nThe trigger was the temporary flight of tens of thousands of African migrants to the Spanish exclave of Ceuta in Morocco.\n\nRome argues that its borders must therefore be protected particularly well.\n\nBehind 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.\n\nComplaints from the tourism industry\n\nAt first glance, the checks at ports and airports seem to be rather superficial and symbolic, at least for EU citizens.\n\nHowever, the tourism industry has complained that they are burdening businesses in the middle of the summer travel season.\n\nMillions 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.\n\nMadrid had introduced the controls on Friday evening after Meloni had refused to lift the one-sided border controls.\n\nThe 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.\n\n\"Italy does not accept ultimatums or specifications from abroad regarding national security and border control.\"\n\nNow, in both countries, checks are being carried out on entry.\n\nIn Italy, this is set to apply until August 15.\n\nItalian vacationer in Madrid: showing passport is enough\n\nHowever, there are different reports on how this affects practice.\n\nAt 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.\n\nSpanish officials had then stood in front of the plane - but nothing more.\n\n\"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.\"\n\nOn the other hand, the Italian Tourism Association Fiavet reported significant problems.\n\n\"There are queues, impairments in services and connections with car rental companies. Anyone who runs a travel agency already has problems with customers.\"\n\nThe Tourism Ministry in Rome stated that the controls only affected non-EU citizens.\n\n\"The tourism industry is completely unaffected by this matter.\"\n\nMadrid speaks of \"torpedo\" against European unity\n\nFrom a Spanish perspective, the border controls imposed by Italy are unfair, contrary to the interests of the EU, and discriminatory.\n\nForeign Minister José Manuel Albares described Italy's actions as a \"torpedo below the waterline of European unity\".\n\nMeloni had introduced the measure after the influx of more than 70,000 migrants to the Spanish exclave Ceuta.\n\nIn the meantime, almost all refugees have returned to Morocco.\n\nDuring the Italian border controls, not a single arrival was stopped in the first few days.\n\nThere are also no indications that any of the migrants from Ceuta have made their way to Italy.\n\nThey are not even allowed on the Spanish mainland.\n\nMeloni was elected in 2022 with the promise of taking a tough stance against unwanted migration.\n\nNext year, elections will take place in Italy again.\n\nAccording 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.\n\nHowever, 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.\n\nRome and Madrid pursue a very different approach to migration policy.",
  "summary": "Italy's government is sticking to strict checks, Spain is following suit. How the two countries are working out their dispute over migration and border policy. And who is suffering as a result.",
  "key_points": [
    "Spain and Italy resume border controls between each other, recalling pre-Schengen era.",
    "Controls aim to protect borders, driven by Italy's Prime Minister Meloni and Spain's leader Sánchez."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Handelsblatt",
        "title": "Ceuta: Spain announces border controls with Italy",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/08/ceuta-spanien-kundigt-grenzkontrollen-zu-italien-an",
        "published": "2026-08-08T06:11:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}