Spain and Italy establish reciprocal border controls

Spain and Italy Establish Reciprocal Border Controls Following the Ceuta Migrant Crisis

Giorgia Meloni and Pedro Sánchez have led the European Union to a historic fracture by establishing reciprocal border controls between Spain and Italy. The measure was taken after Italy imposed controls on travelers from Spain, citing the need to protect itself from the potential spread of the migrant crisis that erupted following the illegal entry of 72,000 people into Ceuta from Morocco.

Spain's controls will be applied randomly and will include identity checks (passports), nationality verification, and visa or residence permit checks for nationals of third countries. These controls will come into effect at midnight on Saturday, August 8, and will remain in place until September 7, unless circumstances change.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has refused to lift these controls until at least August 15. According to Meloni, these controls are aimed at ensuring national security and preventing new waves of migration. The press indicates that Italy will maintain its controls until it is certain that "there will be no irregular migrants heading towards European territory."

In response to Meloni's refusal, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez decided to impose similar controls on travelers from Italy. According to Sánchez, these controls are applied due to "the persistent pressure of irregular migration that the Italian peninsula is suffering." The press notes that Spain has criticized Italy for being, according to Frontex, the Member State that has recorded the most irregular crossings in recent years.

The migrant crisis in Ceuta has escalated tensions between Pedro Sánchez and Giorgia Meloni, dragging the EU into a historic fracture, shaking one of the main pillars of the community building: free movement and the scope of European citizenship.

Brussels finds itself in a state of shock following the announcement by the Sanchez government late Friday that it would impose, on a "temporary" basis, controls at internal borders of ports and airports for travelers coming from Italy. The decision was made after the Meloni government ignored the ultimatum issued by Moncloa for Italy to withdraw the measures it had introduced against travelers from Spain following the mass influx of migrants into Ceuta from Morocco.

Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has called on the Meloni government to "withdraw the unjustified measures it has introduced" against citizens of fellow member states, emphasizing that "there is no reason to introduce such measures." The press also highlights that the head of Spanish diplomacy has insisted that "this measure by the Italian government is a torpedo to the keel of the European Union."

The head-on collision between two of the EU’s principal member states occurred after the Sanchez government on Friday asked Italy to "rectify" and "halt border controls" on its citizens. If it did not do so before Sunday, August 9, officials in the Sanchez cabinet were already threatening to "adopt proportional measures to protect the interests and dignity" of Spaniards.

The migrant crisis in Ceuta has escalated tensions between Pedro Sánchez and Giorgia Meloni, dragging the EU into a historic fracture, shaking one of the main pillars of the community building: free movement and the scope of European citizenship.

Piece prepared by the newsroom from cross-checked sources in several countries.