Italy vows to maintain border checks despite Spain’s countermeasures threat
Spain has implemented temporary border controls on travelers from Italy following a diplomatic dispute over migration policies. The move comes after Italy previously introduced similar measures in response to a surge of migrants entering the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Why it matters
This diplomatic friction highlights the ongoing challenges within the European Union regarding migration management and the stability of the Schengen Area's open-border principles.
Madrid earlier warned of ‘proportional measures’ if Rome did not end its checks amid fallout from the Ceuta migrant crisis.
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Spain has introduced temporary border controls on travellers from Italy after Rome refused to pull back a similar policy following the deadly rush of thousands of migrants and asylum seekers into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta last week.
The passport, nationality and visa checks will start at midnight on Saturday and last until September 7, Spain’s Ministry of Interior said in a statement on Friday, citing “persistent irregular migration pressure” on Italy.
Italy had applied its own temporary measures on July 30 , saying the move was motivated by the mass migration rush of about 72,000 people on Ceuta.
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