Spain began enforcing border controls on Italian travellers arriving at Barcelona airport overnight, escalating a diplomatic row that erupted after a surge of migrants entered the Spanish territory of Ceuta from Morocco last month.
The Spanish government announced the measures would remain in place for at least a month after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni rejected a demand to lift her own restrictions on Spanish citizens by an August 9 deadline. Italy began checking Spanish arrivals by air and sea on August 1, citing security concerns linked to Spain's migration policies.
Ceuta crisis triggers feud
The dispute traces back to late July when roughly 72,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African coast. More than 80 people died during the rush, including some who drowned or were trampled in a stampede at a breakwater barrier, according to Spanish and Moroccan authorities.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez faced criticism from EU leaders over policies they said encouraged the influx. Meloni singled out a Spanish amnesty program that granted residency to undocumented migrants who could prove they had lived in Spain for at least five months and arrived before January 1. Over one million people applied before the window closed at the end of July.
Schengen rules tested
The European Union's Schengen area permits visa-free travel across most member states but allows temporary internal border controls in exceptional circumstances. The bloc states such measures should be a last resort and time-limited.
Meloni's office said on Friday that Italian authorities "have no intention" of lifting the checks until at least August 15. "Italy does not accept ultimatums or impositions from abroad about national security and border control," a statement read. Rome added it would review the decision only when certain there would be no security risks, no new migrant wave, and no irregular migrants heading toward European territory.
Spain's foreign ministry said its response was proportionate and aimed at protecting the interests and dignity of its citizens. The tit-for-tat measures mark a rare breakdown in Schengen cooperation between two major EU members.
Based on reporting by Global News.