The Italian government announced Sunday it will temporarily reinstate border checks on travelers arriving from Spain, focusing on non-EU citizens, as a security measure to prevent secondary migration following the wave of illegal entries into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The checks are expected to remain in place for about a month, Rome said.
The Italian government clarified Sunday that the temporary border checks on travelers from Spain will focus on non-EU citizens and are expected to remain in place for roughly one month, according to an official announcement. The measure, which takes effect immediately, is aimed at preventing secondary migration — the movement of migrants who entered the EU through Spain to other Schengen countries. This is the latest development in a rapidly escalating crisis that began last week.
As The Zioneer reported on Friday evening (Jul 31, 19:02 Jerusalem), Italy ordered the closure of its sea and air borders with Spain and suspended the Schengen Agreement. Earlier that day, the Spanish Foreign Ministry summoned the Italian ambassador in Madrid after Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani voiced support for sealing the free-travel border. The diplomatic rift was further underscored by a letter from 22 EU leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who condemned Spain's immigration policy and signaled readiness for temporary border checks within the Schengen area.
The crisis was triggered by the influx of tens of thousands of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco last week. Spanish authorities later reported that the majority of those who entered had returned to Morocco, though the incident sparked a European debate over border security. The Italian measures, including the latest clarification, represent a hardening of Rome's position and a challenge to the Schengen free-travel regime.
It remains to be seen whether other EU member states will follow Italy's lead, and how the Spanish government will respond to the detailed scope and duration of the new border checks.
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