Spain has imposed border restrictions on arrivals from Italy as a row over migration between the two countries escalates.
The measure, which came into force on Saturday evening, was a reaction to Italy’s decision to suspend the border-free Schengen arrangement for some travellers arriving from Spain.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the move after thousands of migrants attempted to enter the Spanish enclave Ceuta from Morocco.
Ceuta’s leader, Juan Jesus Vivas, said 100 people died when around 78,000 people attempted to cross into the enclave, mostly by swimming.
The majority of those who attempted to gain entry have since been deported, but Vivas said between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remained in Ceuta – around 1,400 are minors according to Spanish outlet El Pais.
What has Spain announced?
The Spanish government has imposed border controls on all air and sea travel from Italy until 7 September, although it hinted the timeline was flexible.
The measure will remain in place until next month “unless a change in the circumstances that led to its adoption warrants modifying that period”, it said in a statement.
Travellers from Italy will face passport, nationality and visa checks upon arrival, which could potentially lead to longer queues and wait times for other visitors.
Spain’s government justified the measure by citing “persistent irregular migratory pressure” affecting Italy.
Madrid previewed the announcement on Friday by issuing a threat to impose border controls on Italy unless the fellow EU member removed its own checks by Sunday, 9 August.
The Spanish government has imposed border controls on all air and sea travel from Italy until 7 September (Photo: Marcos Moreno/Anadolu via Getty Images)How has Italy responded?
Italy has yet to formally respond to the announcement of additional border checks, but Rome reacted to Spain’s Friday threat by insisting its own measures would remain in place until 15 August.
Rejecting “ultimatums” from Spanish officials, the Italian government said it would not “under any circumstances” reconsider its checks “at least until August 15th and in any case until security and terrorist risks for Italy have been completely eliminated”.
It argued the Spanish government “expects a new wave of migration” to hit Ceuta some time in the coming days.
Spain, though, denies the claim and there is limited evidence another mass crossing is imminent.
Scattered reports, mostly driven by social media activity in Morocco, have suggested more migrants may attempt to enter Ceuta over the coming days.
Italy has also been keen to stress its border checks are limited to “third-country nationals arriving from Spain” and that Spanish and other EU nationals are not being subjected to additional screening.
However, some airports have seen extensive queues in the days following the introduction of Italy’s checks and Spanish media have reported local Italian officials in some areas have directed citizens of Spain to separate lines upon arrival.
When could the row end?
As it stands neither Italy or Spain have shown any signs of backing down.
Italy’s initial decision to temporarily suspend the Schengen agreement was supported by Finland and Denmark, while the Czech Republic went further still and called for Spain’s membership to be temporarily suspended.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has long called for stronger immigration controls in Europe and has given short shrift to defences offered by Spanish officials in the wake of the incident.
Spain’s own Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, has a tense relationship with his counterpart and in June drew her ire for regularising half a million undocumented migrants in the country.
While it is possible the tit-for-tat border checks could be wound back after 15 August, should Italy choose not to extend the measure further, any further major crossings into Ceuta could take de-escalation off the table.
There is also the question of a recent ruling in Spain’s Supreme Court, which declared migrants stopped at sea while trying to reach Ceuta or Melilla, a neighbouring island, cannot be summarily returned to Morocco.
Critics, including some in Italy, have argued the ruling laid the groundwork for the mass crossing attempt and would embolden others to make the journey in future.
Spanish officials have pushed back on those claims, but could yet face further pressure to introduce legislation making it easier to remove those attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla from Morocco.
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