Spain and Italy strengthen border controls amid Ceuta dispute

Spain has responded to Italy's border controls with its own measures. According to the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, the new controls will apply from midnight Saturday for flights and ships from Italy. This action is seen as retaliation for the Italian controls that came into effect on August 1, following the influx of more than 78,000 migrants from Morocco into Ceuta.

Italy had implemented measures under the Schengen Agreement in response to the migration into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta and introduced controls for travelers from Spain. Spain is now demanding that Italy lift these controls by Sunday, or else Madrid will take proportional countermeasures.

That is the ultimatum that was delivered to Italy on Friday.

Reports suggest that Spain expects Italy to cease the measures by August 9. Otherwise, Madrid intends to maintain its own border controls. This development has led to an escalating diplomatic crisis between the two countries, as both sides stand firm in their positions.

The situation in Ceuta remains tense, as between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants continue to linger in the exclave. Spain has sent back numerous migrants from Morocco in recent days, but many of the remaining migrants are unaccompanied minors, which poses additional challenges.

The dispute between Spain and Italy points to larger issues in European migration policy, highlighting how quickly tensions can arise between EU member states. The new border controls are expected to remain in effect until September 7 and are viewed as a reflexive response to the developments in Ceuta that are putting pressure on both countries.