Tensions between Italy and Spain are rising over border controls. Madrid has introduced spot checks on passengers arriving from Italy, in response to the Italian government’s decision to suspend the application of the Schengen rules for a month at its air and sea borders with Spain following the migration crisis in Ceuta.
The Spanish checks came into force at midnight between Friday and Saturday and will remain in place until 7 September. At major airports, at least in the initial hours, no significant disruption has been reported: the checks are said to have affected between 5% and 15% of passengers, with document checks carried out directly upon disembarkation. Meanwhile, the Italian Foreign Ministry (Farnesina) has stepped up consular assistance for Italians who may encounter difficulties during their travels.
Madrid’s decision comes after Rome rejected Spain’s request to lift the controls, which were introduced following the situation recorded in the exclave of Ceuta and fears of further attempts at irregular entry. A further mobilisation is reportedly being called for via social media on 15 August.
The standoff between the two governments has drawn the attention of Brussels. “Trust between member states is our most precious resource,” said European Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner after speaking with Interior Ministers Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Matteo Piantedosi. Both governments are said to have confirmed the temporary nature of the measures.
The European Union is seeking to prevent the standoff between Rome and Madrid from further weakening the Schengen area, reiterating that irregular immigration must be tackled through a common response and stronger external borders.
At the heart of the dispute remains the situation in Ceuta, where an exceptional influx of migrants occurred at the end of July. According to Madrid, of the roughly 72,000 arrivals by land or by swimming, around 70,000 people are believed to have returned to Morocco. Thousands of migrants are believed to remain in the Spanish autonomous city, however.
Ceuta’s president-mayor, Juan Vivas, has asked Pedro Sánchez’s government to speed up repatriations and reinforce the presence of police and the Civil Guard, as alertness remains high ahead of the mid-August holiday.
For those travelling from Italy to Spain, then, carrying an identity document has once again become essential from the moment of disembarkation: the checks do not necessarily apply to every passenger, but are carried out on a spot-check basis at ports and airports.
