Spain and Italy are locked in an escalating dispute after Rome imposed border controls on Spanish travellers, prompting Madrid to announce its own controls, in the wake of a large migrant influx from Morocco into the enclave of Ceuta.
Key facts
- About 78,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, according to the BBC.
- Italy imposed border controls on Spanish visitors arriving by air and sea.
- Spain threatened to retaliate and announced new border controls for flights and ships from Italy.
- The dispute between Madrid and Rome has intensified over the migrant influx.
Spain and Italy are embroiled in a growing diplomatic row after both countries moved to impose border controls on each other, following a large influx of migrants into the North African Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Italy introduced border controls after around 78,000 migrants crossed from neighbouring Morocco into Ceuta, according to the BBC. Rome’s measures were imposed on Spanish visitors travelling by air and sea.
In response, Spain threatened to retaliate against Italy, according to Sky News, before announcing that it would impose its own new border controls for flights and ships arriving from Italy.
Sky News reported that Spain is to impose the new controls as the row between the two countries over the Ceuta migrant influx intensifies.
Ceuta is a Spanish exclave located on the North African coast, bordering Morocco. The scale of the recent crossings, reported by the BBC at about 78,000 people, appears to have triggered the dispute between the two European nations.
As of the latest reports, both Madrid and Rome had moved to introduce reciprocal controls, with the disagreement showing signs of escalating rather than easing.
Why it matters
Border controls between EU member states can disrupt travel and trade and test the bloc's principle of free movement. The row highlights how migration pressures at Europe's borders can strain relations between neighbouring countries.
Frequently asked questions
How many migrants crossed into Ceuta?
About 78,000 migrants crossed from neighbouring Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, according to the BBC.
Why did Italy impose border controls?
Italy introduced border controls on Spanish visitors travelling by air and sea following the influx of migrants into Ceuta, according to reporting by Sky News and the BBC.
How is Spain responding?
Spain threatened to retaliate and announced new border controls for flights and ships arriving from Italy, according to Sky News.