Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Spain Hits Italy With Border Checks After Ceuta Migrant Crisis
Two countries in Europe, Spain and Italy, had a big disagreement.
It started when many people crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, a small Spanish city that is located in Africa.
About 60,000 people arrived in just two or three days, which is a lot because only about 80,000 people usually live in Ceuta.
Sadly, at least 67 people died during the dangerous crossings.
After that, Italy said people coming from Spain needed extra checks at the border.
Spain thought this was unfair and asked Italy to stop, but Italy said no.
So Spain decided to put the same kind of extra checks on people coming from Italy.
Both countries are close allies in the European Union, so other European leaders were worried and asked for urgent talks.
Most of the people who crossed into Ceuta have now gone back to Morocco, and the countries are trying to work out their disagreement.
Spain announced temporary border checks on travellers arriving from Italy, starting at midnight Saturday and lasting until September 7.
The move followed Italy's one-month suspension of visa-free Schengen travel with Spain, imposed after around 60,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta.
The migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta on July 30-31, a surge significant against the enclave's population of about 80,000.
At least 67 people died during the crossings, and most of the migrants who entered have since returned to Morocco.
Leaders from 22 of the 27 EU member states called for urgent talks between EU interior ministers, while Spain deployed troops, police, divers, drones and boats.
- Who
- Spain and Italy, two European Union and NATO allies; Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares and Ceuta's regional president Juan Jesus Vivas were prominent voices in the dispute.
- What
- Spain imposed temporary border checks on travellers from Italy after Italy imposed its own checks over a disputed response to a mass migration surge into the Spanish territory of Ceuta.
- When
- Spain announced its checks on Friday; they begin at midnight Saturday and remain until September 7, following the Ceuta crossings on July 30-31.
- Where
- Ceuta, Spain's North African territory bordering Morocco, and the border checks on travel between Spain and Italy within the Schengen zone.
- Why
- Because of a dispute over migration controls after around 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, which Italy said justified tougher measures and Spain called unfair.
Spain's Position
Italy's Position
Border checks on travellers
Spain's Position
The Spanish government called Italy's checks "unfair, contrary to the EU's interests and discriminatory for the Spanish population" and urged Rome to lift them and treat Spaniards like other European citizens.
Italy's Position
Italy rejected Spain's demand to remove its checks, and Spain's own interior ministry cited "the persistent irregular migration pressure" facing Italy as the backdrop to the escalating dispute.
Suspension from the Schengen zone
Spain's Position
Spain criticised Italy's call to suspend it from the Schengen zone; Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called the move "a torpedo fired at the hull of European unity."
Italy's Position
Italy took a tough stance after the mass arrivals, calling for Spain to be suspended from the Schengen zone and imposing a one-month suspension of visa-free Schengen travel with Spain.
Managing the migrant influx
Spain's Position
Spain responded to the surge by increasing security in Ceuta with troops, police, divers, drones and boats, and noted most migrants have since returned to Morocco.
Italy's Position
Italy argued a tougher response was needed given the persistent irregular migration pressure, and EU leaders from 22 of 27 countries called for urgent talks between EU interior ministers to prevent further uncontrolled crossings.
- Migrants entering Ceuta
- Around 60,000 over two to three days, per local estimates
- Ceuta population
- Around 80,000
- Deaths during crossings
- At least 67
- Crossing dates
- July 30-31
- Spain's border checks
- From midnight Saturday until September 7
- Italy's border measures
- One-month suspension of visa-free Schengen travel with Spain
- EU leaders urging urgent talks
- 22 of 27 member states
- Spanish reinforcements in Ceuta
- Troops, additional police, divers, drones and boats