Italy reinstates border checks with Spain amid Ceuta migration crisis

Italy has reintroduced border controls on air and sea arrivals from Spain for one month, a move announced by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after more than 60,000 people crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco, with at least 72 deaths. The measure, effective from August 1, affects non-EU travellers arriving in Italy from Spain, who must now show residence permits or visas; EU citizens only need identity documents. Travel from Italy to Spain is unaffected. Source: Euronews

Legal basis

Italy's action is not a suspension of Schengen, as no country can unilaterally expel another from the free-movement zone. Instead, it invokes the agreement's emergency clause allowing temporary internal border controls. Analysts note that such controls are common: at least six member states have maintained them almost continuously since 2015. However, this is the first time a country has reinstated controls based on arrivals in a non-neighbouring state. Source: Al Jazeera

Political reaction

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has urged Brussels to intervene, while Meloni and Denmark's Mette Frederiksen co-signed a letter with 22 EU leaders calling for urgent action on irregular migration. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that most migrants in Ceuta have been repatriated and none reached mainland Spain or other EU countries. Source: Euronews

Criticism

Rights groups and analysts dismiss the measure as "political theatre," arguing it has no practical effect since migrants from Ceuta cannot realistically reach Italy. They see it as a template for using Schengen's emergency provisions for political rather than operational reasons. Source: Al Jazeera