Italy criticises Spain's border controls

The Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, has described Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez’s, decision to reinstate border checks for travellers from Italy as “disproportionate”. Tajani argued that Sánchez’s measure is a “retaliatory” move following Italy’s suspension of the Schengen agreement with Spain.

The Official State Gazette (BOE) published on Sunday the order from the Ministry of the Interior which reinstates random border checks for passengers arriving from Italy for a period of 30 days. The Spanish government’s decision came after Italy reinstated border controls for travellers coming from Spain following the mass entry of migrants into Ceuta. Italy claimed that these measures were necessary to prevent possible secondary movements towards its territory.

In an interview with the newspaper ‘La Stampa’, Tajani defended the initial Italian government’s decision as a preventive measure allowed under the treaties in light of the “extraordinary” situation that Ceuta experienced last week when tens of thousands of people entered from northern Morocco by crossing the Tarajal breakwater. Dozens of them drowned. According to Tajani, the real threat to Italy was posed by non-Moroccan individuals from Sub-Saharan Africa who crossed into Ceuta and who would likely have Italy as their next destination because it is the most exposed.

For her part, the Vice President and Minister for the Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, criticised three regions governed by PP and Vox for refusing to accommodate the minors who arrived in Ceuta. Aagesen also expressed hope that Italy will react and realise that the Schengen space has not been violated at any point and remains guaranteed.

The order, signed by the Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, justifies the measure due to the pressure of migration along the Central Mediterranean route and the risk of subsequent movements from Italy to other Schengen countries, including Spain. The text warns of a “grave, real and current threat to public order and internal security” due to the concentration of movements in certain flights and maritime links from Italy.

The mayor of the autonomous city of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, has called on the government to implement preventive and deterrent measures to avoid another migrant crisis. Religious communities in Ceuta have called for a demonstration to demand the same.

Tensions between Spain and Italy persist as both sides continue to justify their decisions to the international community. The coming week will be crucial in determining how this situation evolves and whether agreements can be reached to mitigate the escalation of tensions.

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