Spain hits back at Italy as border control rift continues
- Spain has implemented border controls on all travellers from Italy, following Italy’s earlier imposition of similar measures.
- Italy initially introduced border checks due to a significant influx of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, stating it would not yield to ‘ultimatums’ from Spain.
- Madrid had demanded Rome lift its border checks, calling them ‘unjustified’ and threatening ‘proportionate measures’ if Italy failed to comply.
- Italy justified its decision by citing concerns over security, terrorism risks, and preventing irregular migrants from entering European territory via Spain.
- The dispute underscores a growing rift between Italy’s conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who advocates for tighter immigration controls, and Spain’s Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez, who generally supports a more liberal approach.
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