Spain, Italy reintroduce border checks amid dispute over migration

Dhaka: Spain and Italy have temporarily brought back border controls between the two countries, disrupting the normally passport-free movement guaranteed under Europe’s Schengen system.

Spain began checking passengers arriving from Italy by air and sea at midnight om August 7. Travelers are being asked to provide passports, nationality and visa information, with the measures currently scheduled to remain in place until September 7.

The move follows Italy’s decision a week earlier to introduce checks on travelers arriving from Spain. Rome says the restrictions are necessary to prevent migrants who recently entered Spain’s North African territory of Ceuta from moving onward to Italy.

Italy has rejected Madrid’s request to remove the controls and plans to maintain them until at least August 15, citing security and terrorism concerns. Italian authorities say the checks primarily target non-EU nationals and do not apply to Spanish citizens.

Spain, however, has challenged Italy’s reasoning, arguing that migrants who entered Ceuta cannot directly access the wider Schengen area from the territory.

The disagreement follows a major migration surge in Ceuta, where tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco. Most were subsequently returned, although around 1,400 minors are still reportedly in the territory.

The border dispute has highlighted broader differences between the governments of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over migration policy and border security.

The renewed checks have already caused delays at some airports, with reports of long lines for passengers arriving from Spain.