Spain is to impose temporary border checks on travellers arriving from Italy, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two European Union members after Rome introduced similar measures in response to the mass movement of migrants into Spain’s North African territory of Ceuta.
The Spanish interior ministry said the checks would begin at midnight on Saturday and remain in place until 7 September, citing “amid the persistent irregular migration pressure” facing Italy.
The move came just hours after Madrid warned that it could retaliate against Italy unless Rome withdrew its own restrictions on travellers arriving from Spain. Italy subsequently rejected the demand, insisting that its border controls would remain in force.
The dispute has brought an unusual public confrontation between two EU and NATO allies, following the arrival of tens of thousands of people from Morocco into Ceuta on 30 and 31 July.
The unprecedented influx left dozens dead and triggered renewed calls from some European governments for tougher measures against irregular migration.
Italy responded by introducing checks on people travelling from Spain, a decision that was sharply criticised by the Spanish government.
Madrid described the Italian measures on Friday as “unfair, contrary to the EU’s interests and discriminatory for the Spanish population”.
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares went further, calling the decision “a torpedo fired at the hull of European unity”.
“We urge the government of Italy to rectify, put an end to the checks and treat Spaniards like other European citizens,” he said.
Albares warned that Spain would take “proportional measures” by Sunday if Italy refused to lift the restrictions.
Rome rejected the ultimatum. The office of Italy’s far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the government “had no intention of revising the decision” before 15 August, when Spanish authorities were reportedly expecting another potential influx into Ceuta.
Meloni’s office said in a statement: “Italy does not accept ultimatums or impositions from abroad regarding national security and border control.
“Only when there is certainty that there are no security or terrorism risks to Italy, that no new wave is occurring, and that no irregular migrants are heading toward European territory, will the decision be reconsidered.”
Spain announced its reciprocal controls within hours of the Italian response.
Italian authorities have introduced checks at airports and ports for third-country nationals arriving from Spain, despite the two countries having no land border. The restrictions were announced on 31 July as an “extraordinary measure” intended to “safeguard national security and prevent possible repercussions for our nation”, according to Meloni.
Spanish authorities have been monitoring social media posts and online rumours suggesting that another large movement of people could reach Ceuta around mid-August. Local media have reported the concerns, although Spanish officials have not publicly confirmed that another mass crossing is expected.
Italy has also stressed that its measures should not prevent the normal movement of Spanish and other European citizens. Its government said border authorities would “do their utmost to ensure maximum ease of movement for Spanish and European citizens” who are not subject to the checks.
The confrontation follows a particularly deadly episode at the Ceuta border, where Spain says about 80 people died during the crossings. Official figures indicate that around 70,000 of the estimated 72,000 people who entered the territory have since returned to Morocco.
Moroccan human rights organisations have disputed the Spanish death toll, saying the number of fatalities is considerably higher.
The Moroccan Association for Human Rights and the European Coordination for Human Rights in Morocco said on Friday that at least 141 people had died, warning that the final figure could increase further.
Morocco’s interior ministry has separately reported 11 deaths on its side of the border, with all but one attributed to drowning.
The crisis has also left hundreds of people, including unaccompanied children, stranded in Ceuta. Those who remain are facing difficult conditions and limited access to basic necessities including food, water and shelter.
The incident has intensified pressure on European governments over irregular migration, while Spain has urged its EU partners to avoid allowing the dispute to develop into a wider political confrontation.
The Spanish government warned against “creating rifts and sterile conflicts driven by internal electoral motives” and said “we trust that pro-European sentiment, common sense and good faith prevail”.
