3 weeks ago
Spain imposes border controls on Italian travellers in migrant row
Spain and Italy are having a disagreement about people moving from one country to another.
Many people from Morocco traveled to a place called Ceuta, which belongs to Spain.
So many people came that more than 80 of them died trying to get through.
Italy's leader, Giorgia Meloni, was not happy with Spain's leader, Pedro Sanchez for letting so many people in.
To show they were upset, Italy started checking Spanish travelers more carefully at airports and ports.
Spain did not like that, so Spain started checking Italian travelers too.
People arriving at Barcelona airport were stopped and checked by police.
Spain said those checks would stay for at least a month.
Italy said it would keep its checks until at least August 15 and would not change its mind just because Spain asked.
Both countries are part of the European Union, where people usually travel freely between countries.
Spain imposed border controls on Italian travellers after Italy placed checks on Spanish citizens on August 1.
Italians arriving at Barcelona airport faced random police checks, with controls expected to stay for at least a month.
Spain gave Italy until August 9 to lift its restrictions, but Italy refused, saying it accepts no ultimatums.
The dispute was triggered by the arrival of 72,000 migrants from Morocco in Ceuta, where more than 80 migrants died.
Italy said it will keep sea and air checks until at least August 15 and review them only if no new migrant wave or security risks emerge.
- Who
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- What
- A tit-for-tat imposition of border controls between Spain and Italy amid a migrant row over Ceuta
- Where
- Barcelona airport in Spain, Italy, and the Spanish North African territory of Ceuta
- When
- Spain's controls took effect overnight into Saturday, following Italy's August 1 measures; Spain's deadline was August 9 and Italy's checks will last until at least August 15
- Why
- The dispute was triggered by the arrival of 72,000 migrants in Ceuta and a clash over migration policies
Progressive Migration Policies (Sanchez/Spain)
Stricter Border Controls (Meloni/Italy)
Migration policy
Progressive Migration Policies (Sanchez/Spain)
Sanchez's government offered an amnesty to immigrants without residency permits who had lived in Spain at least five months and arrived before Jan. 1; over 1 million people applied.
Stricter Border Controls (Meloni/Italy)
Meloni and hawkish EU leaders blamed such policies for the massive influx of migrants to Ceuta.
Border controls
Progressive Migration Policies (Sanchez/Spain)
Spain said it would take "proportionate measures to protect the interests and dignity of its citizens" and imposed checks on Italian travellers after Italy ignored its ultimatum.
Stricter Border Controls (Meloni/Italy)
Italy said it does not accept ultimatums from abroad on national security and border control, keeping checks until at least Aug. 15.
EU internal border rules
Progressive Migration Policies (Sanchez/Spain)
Spain's retaliatory approach reflects the view that Italy's checks were unjustified and required a proportional response.
Stricter Border Controls (Meloni/Italy)
Italy treats border checks as a legitimate national security measure; the EU allows temporary reintroduction of internal border controls in case of a serious threat, as a last resort.
Key facts
- Migrants arriving in Ceuta
- 72,000
- Migrant deaths
- More than 80
- Italy's border controls began
- August 1
- Spain's deadline for Italy
- August 9
- Italy's checks to remain until
- At least August 15
- Spanish amnesty applicants
- Over 1 million
- Amnesty conditions
- No residency permit, at least 5 months in Spain, arrived before Jan. 1
- Duration of Spain's controls
- At least one month
Quotes
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
Prime Minister of Italy
“"Proportionate measures to protect the interests and dignity of its citizens" if Rome didn’t lift its own restrictions by Aug. 9.”
telegraphindia.com
“"Italy does not accept ultimatums or impositions from abroad about national security and border control."”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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