Spain has warned Italy that it will take “proportional measures” if Rome fails to lift border controls on travelers from Spain by August 9, escalating a diplomatic dispute triggered by the recent arrival of large numbers of unauthorized migrants in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta.
Italy reintroduced border controls with Spain on August 1, temporarily suspending passport-free travel between the two countries under the Schengen framework. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defended the move as a “necessary choice” to protect citizens and strengthen Europe’s external borders.
Madrid, however, has condemned the decision as unjustified and discriminatory, arguing that it runs counter to the interests of the European Union and has created uncertainty for thousands of travelers during the peak summer holiday period.
“The measure adopted by the Italian government is unjust, contrary to the interests of the EU and discriminatory toward the Spanish population,” the Spanish government said in a statement.
Spain also criticized Italy for questioning Madrid’s management of irregular migration while, according to the Spanish government, Italy has recorded higher numbers of irregular crossings in recent years.
Madrid noted that Spain has never imposed similar controls on travelers arriving from Italy, despite Italy having at times recorded twice as many irregular crossings as Spain.
The Spanish government has now given Rome until Sunday to lift the controls or face reciprocal measures intended to “protect the interests and dignity” of Spanish citizens.
“Governments should work to promote understanding between countries and serve the general interests of their populations, rather than create divisions and pointless conflicts driven by domestic electoral considerations,” Madrid said.
The dispute highlights growing tensions within the EU over migration policy and the use of internal border controls, which are permitted under exceptional circumstances but can disrupt one of the bloc’s core principles of free movement.
“We trust that Europeanism, common sense and good faith will prevail,” the Spanish government said.
