Spain began temporary border checks on travellers arriving from Italy on Saturday, escalating a dispute between the two European Union partners over migration and border controls.
The move follows Italy’s decision on July 31 to introduce one month of checks on travellers arriving from Spain after an unprecedented influx of migrants into the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta.
More than 70,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta on July 30 and 31, although almost all returned to Morocco within 48 hours.
Spain announced on Friday that it would respond with heightened checks on travellers from Italy, citing the “persistent irregular migration pressure” facing the country.
The decision deepens tensions between Spain’s left-wing government and Italy’s hard-right government over the temporary suspension of the European Union’s Schengen Area visa-free travel arrangements.
Spain has argued that Italy’s decision to impose controls on travellers from Spain was unjustified.
The Ceuta influx raised concerns among European governments, particularly those pushing for tougher measures against irregular migration.
However, migrants entering Ceuta cannot travel directly onwards to continental Europe without passing through another layer of border controls.
Spain’s interior ministry said its checks on travellers arriving from Italy would remain in place until September 7.
One Italian traveller arriving in Madrid criticised the measures, saying the dispute appeared to lack diplomacy.
“I don't see a lot of the word 'diplomacy' used in these decisions, not by the Italian government, nor by the Spanish government,” Maria Celeste Grillo said.
She said she had not encountered additional checks after leaving her flight but described their introduction as “sad”.
