Italy and Spain clash over border checks as Ceuta migration crisis strains Schengen

Rome – A diplomatic dispute between Italy and Spain over migration and border controls is intensifying, as both governments defend temporary restrictions on travel while the European Union attempts to prevent the row from undermining the Schengen free movement area.

Italy introduced temporary checks on travellers arriving from Spain on 1 August, following the mass arrival of migrants in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Rome says the measure is justified by security concerns and the possibility of a further influx, while Madrid has criticised the decision as unnecessary and disproportionate.

Spain has now responded by introducing its own temporary checks on passengers arriving from Italy. The measures, which began at Spanish ports and airports over the weekend, are due to remain in place until 7 September unless the perceived threat subsides earlier. On the first day, Spanish authorities checked 199 passengers from non EU countries travelling on 12 flights from Italy.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defended Rome’s decision, saying that Italy could not lift the controls before 15 August because of concerns over terrorism and irregular migration.

“The risk of terrorism and the risk of illegal immigration cannot be underestimated,” Tajani said, arguing that the restrictions could be removed once the situation returned to normal.

He also criticised the Spanish government’s response, saying Madrid had turned the dispute into a political confrontation and that reciprocal border checks risked causing unnecessary damage to tourism and travel between two close European partners.

Deputy Foreign Minister Edmondo Cirielli similarly defended Italy’s position, arguing that temporary checks are permitted under European rules and were introduced for security reasons rather than as an attempt to undermine relations with Spain.

Italy has also criticised Spain’s recent policy of regularising undocumented migrants. Tajani argued that the decision to regularise large numbers of migrants could create an incentive for further arrivals, while Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini accused Madrid of failing to adequately protect the EU’s external borders.

“We defend our borders, and in doing so we defend those of the whole continent,” Salvini said.

The Spanish government, however, has rejected Rome’s justification and maintains that the Italian measures are disproportionate. Madrid has also stressed that the integrity of the Schengen area remains protected despite the temporary controls.

The European Commission has stepped into the dispute, urging both governments to keep the measures temporary and stressing the importance of trust between EU member states.

European Commissioner for Internal Affairs Magnus Brunner said after speaking with the Italian and Spanish interior ministers that both governments had confirmed that their border controls were temporary.

“Trust between member states is our most precious resource,” Brunner said.

The Commission is also pressing Spain to strengthen controls around Ceuta and has offered additional assistance, including drones, maritime barriers and support from Frontex, as authorities attempt to prevent another mass crossing.

The dispute has raised wider concerns about the future of Schengen. Former European Commissioner Thierry Breton has argued that the confrontation reflects a broader weakness in European governance rather than simply a disagreement between two governments over migration.

Breton criticised the use of Schengen provisions for political purposes and warned that reciprocal controls could gradually undermine one of the European Union’s most visible achievements: the ability to travel freely between member states without routine internal border checks.

The immediate trigger for the dispute is the migration crisis in Ceuta, where tens of thousands of people attempted to enter the Spanish enclave from Morocco. Spanish authorities say that the vast majority have subsequently returned to Morocco, although the precise number of people remaining in the territory remains disputed.

Local authorities in Ceuta have warned that thousands of migrants, including large numbers of unaccompanied minors, remain in the enclave and that the situation could deteriorate if another mass movement takes place.

Spain has strengthened its security presence around Ceuta, deploying additional police and Guardia Civil officers as well as military resources. A floating barrier has also been installed in an effort to prevent further crossings.

Morocco has meanwhile shown signs of renewed cooperation with Spain in preventing departures towards Ceuta, easing some of the immediate pressure on the enclave.

Spanish authorities are also monitoring calls for a new mass crossing circulating online. Italian and Spanish intelligence services are reportedly examining social media activity, including groups on TikTok, WhatsApp and Facebook, amid concerns that migrant smugglers could be exploiting the mobilisation.

Italian intelligence has reportedly warned of a possible new attempt to reach Ceuta before 15 August, although there is no confirmed indication that such an operation will take place.

The political consequences are already extending beyond migration policy.

Italian Senate President Ignazio La Russa has also become embroiled in a separate controversy after anti fascist protesters turned their backs during a commemoration in Belgium marking the 1956 Marcinelle mining disaster, while he was reading a message from President Sergio Mattarella.

La Russa accused sections of the trade union movement of showing disrespect towards the ceremony and the head of state. He also rejected claims that Italy is experiencing a resurgence of fascism and defended the government's approach to migration and border security.

Meanwhile, Germany has warned that the implementation of the EU's new migration pact could lead to renewed transfers of asylum seekers to Italy and Greece under the bloc's responsibility-sharing rules.

For travellers, the practical impact of the Italian and Spanish measures has so far been limited. Checks are targeted primarily at non EU nationals arriving from the other country, with authorities using passenger lists and databases before carrying out document checks at arrival gates.

Spanish officials said checks on the first day were conducted smoothly, with no significant queues or disruption reported at major airports.

Nevertheless, the dispute has exposed a deeper political tension within the EU. Italy argues that extraordinary migration and security pressures justify exceptional measures. Spain insists that unilateral restrictions threaten European unity and the principles of Schengen.

With both governments maintaining that their controls are temporary, the key test will come after 15 August, when Rome has indicated that it could restore normal arrangements if the anticipated threat to Ceuta does not materialise.

Until then, a migration crisis thousands of kilometres from Italy is continuing to have consequences for one of the EU's central principles: the freedom to move across Europe's internal borders.

PS