Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Spain imposes month-long border checks on arrivals from Italy
Spain and Italy are two countries in Europe that usually let people travel between them without showing passports.
This is because of a special agreement called Schengen.
Recently, about 78,000 people came to a Spanish city called Ceuta from Morocco.
Italy got worried and started checking travellers coming from Spain.
Spain did not like that, so it started checking travellers coming from Italy too.
Spain's leader said Italy's reasons did not make sense.
Italy's leader said Italy would not change its mind until at least August 15.
The two leaders, Pedro Sanchez and Giorgia Meloni, disagree about migration policies.
Some other countries, like Finland and Denmark, support Italy.
Most of the migrants who arrived in Ceuta were sent back within a few days.
Spain imposed month-long border checks, in force from midnight (22:00 GMT), on travellers arriving by air or sea from Italy.
Italy refused to lift its own Schengen restrictions introduced after about 78,000 migrants arrived in Ceuta from Morocco.
Spain dismissed Italy's justification as 'spurious arguments' with no factual basis, saying migrants in Ceuta had no means of entering the Schengen area.
Italy said it would not accept 'ultimatums' and would keep its checks until at least 15 August; Spain's checks run until 7 September.
The standoff reflects political differences between Pedro Sanchez and Giorgia Meloni; Finland and Denmark backed Italy, while the Czech Republic suggested suspending Spain's membership.
- Who
- Spain and Italy, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, with Finland, Denmark, and the Czech Republic weighing in on the dispute.
- What
- Spain introduced temporary passport, nationality and visa checks on air and sea travellers from Italy in response to Italy's suspension of parts of the Schengen Agreement over migration into Ceuta.
- When
- Spain's measures came into force at midnight (22:00 GMT) and last one month, until 7 September; Italy's checks remain until at least 15 August.
- Where
- At Spanish airports and seaports handling arrivals from Italy; the dispute stems from the migrant influx into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta from Morocco.
- Why
- Because Italy suspended Schengen border-free rules after a surge of migrants reached Ceuta, and Spain rejected Rome's justification and imposed reciprocal checks.
Spain's position
Italy's position
Justification for border checks
Spain's position
Madrid called Italy's suspension based on 'spurious arguments' with no factual basis, arguing that migrants arriving in Ceuta had no means of entering the Schengen area.
Italy's position
Rome said the suspension was intended to prevent migrants who had entered Ceuta from travelling onwards to Italy and would remain until security and terrorist risks were completely eliminated.
Deadlines and ultimatums
Spain's position
Spain demanded that Italy withdraw its border checks by Sunday and, after Rome refused, introduced reciprocal checks on travellers from Italy.
Italy's position
Italy said it would not accept 'ultimatums' and did not intend under any circumstances to reconsider suspending the Schengen agreement.
EU migration control approach
Spain's position
Spain presented the dispute as a standoff over the functioning of the Schengen free movement area and treated Italy's suspension as unjustified.
Italy's position
Italy's Giorgia Meloni has long championed tighter migration controls across the EU, and Italy's suspension was supported by Finland and Denmark while the Czech Republic called for suspending Spain's membership.
- Spain's countermeasures
- Passport, nationality and visa checks for Italian passengers and other travellers arriving from Italy
- Duration of Spain's checks
- One month, from midnight (22:00 GMT) until 7 September unless circumstances change
- Duration of Italy's checks
- At least until 15 August, until security and terrorist risks are eliminated
- Migrant influx behind the row
- About 78,000 migrants arrived in Ceuta from Morocco
- Exemptions from Italy's checks
- Spanish citizens and other European travellers; measures apply only to non-EU residents
- Support for Italy's suspension
- Finland and Denmark; the Czech Republic called for Spain's membership to be temporarily suspended
- Entry points affected
- Air and sea travel from Italy to Spain
- Outcome for Ceuta migrants
- Most migrants who arrived in Ceuta were returned within days