A growing rift between Italy's conservative government and Spain's leftist administration has surfaced over immigration and border security, stemming from recent border control measures enacted by Italy and reciprocal actions taken by Spain.
Italy's government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, recently implemented stricter border controls at its air and seaports for non-European Union citizens traveling from Spain. In response, Spain's government, under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, enacted reciprocal measures affecting non-EU citizens traveling from Italy. These actions have introduced travel delays for EU citizens, who are required to show identification, impacting movement during a peak travel period.
The dispute centers on border security, particularly the situation at the border between Morocco and the Spanish exclave of Ceuta. Reports indicate a significant surge in attempted illegal crossings into Ceuta in late July, prompting Spain and Morocco to reinforce the border to manage what the EU terms "irregular migration."
Emma Schubart of the Henry Jackson Society noted that Italy's border checks and Spain's retaliatory measures highlight a divergence between an "enforcement-first" approach, favored by Italy, and a "regularization program" that has seen a large number of applications in Spain.
On July 31, Meloni's government announced an "extraordinary measure" to temporarily suspend the Schengen agreement's free movement regime for maritime and air travel with Spain, reintroducing border controls. This move was presented as support for European efforts to restore control over the EU's external borders, involving random checks for non-EU travelers. This decision was echoed in a letter coordinated by Meloni and Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, which called for an "extraordinary" meeting of EU Interior Ministers. The letter pointed to a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling as a factor that could be exploited to disrupt the EU's migration and asylum system.
Spain's Supreme Court had issued a ruling on July 8 concerning the immediate return of migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla. Prime Minister Sánchez described the joint letter as "politically motivated," asserting that the situation in Ceuta was under control and that his government was in compliance with EU law. He emphasized the importance of "Solidarity and empathy" alongside respect for European treaties and data, citing EU Frontex data indicating a higher number of "irregular entries" via Italy since 2021 compared to Spain.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry stated that irregular entry into Spain through Ceuta or Melilla does not grant the right to remain in the country, travel to mainland Spain, or move freely within Europe. Meloni responded on social media, underscoring the urgency for Europe to address illegal immigration and framing the defense of external EU borders as a shared European responsibility.
Following Italy's border controls, Spain's administration characterized the measures as "unjust" and "discriminatory," warning of "proportionate measures" and implementing its own border controls on Italian travel on August 8.
Italy's Prime Minister's office stated it would not accept "ultimatums or impositions from abroad regarding national security and border control" and intended to maintain its decision, at least until August 15, citing an expected migration wave in Ceuta around that date.
Moroccan authorities reported arresting over 111 individuals attempting to reach Ceuta on August 15, ahead of an anticipated surge. Italian foreign ministry officials indicated they were closely monitoring the situation in Morocco and reaffirmed the necessity of their border control measures.
Lorenzo Vidino, director of the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, suggested that the "tit for tat" between Italy and Spain could persist, attributing the complexity of EU immigration policies to the balance between a single policy and country-specific enforcement. He also noted that internal EU border controls, such as those periodically reintroduced by France, are not unprecedented. Austria also conducts sporadic checks on its land crossings, and traffic at crossings into Germany can be significantly delayed due to ongoing controls.
Juan Jesús Vivas, the Mayor-President of Ceuta, described the situation in the city as "unsustainable," expressing concern over the number of migrants and the perceived slowness of Madrid's response. He stated that the city lacked sufficient legal tools for immediate action against those who entered illegally.
Reports from Maldita.es, a Spanish fact-checking platform, confirmed cases of scabies and impetigo, as well as a gastroenteritis outbreak among migrants in Ceuta. While other outlets reported cases of tuberculosis, health officials indicated that affected individuals received treatment in Morocco prior to crossing, and no confirmed cases of tuberculosis originating in Ceuta had been reported as of August 11.
Schubart drew a parallel to the U.S. experience, suggesting that without consistent external controls, the free movement within the Schengen Area could be undermined.