Spain announced on Friday, August 7th, 2026, that it would implement temporary border checks on travelers arriving from Italy. This move is a direct response to Italy imposing similar controls after a surge of migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain's North African territory of Ceuta on July 30-31.

According to Spain's interior ministry, the border checks will begin at midnight on Saturday, August 8th, and continue until September 7th. The ministry cited the "persistent irregular migration pressure" facing Italy as a key factor for the decision.

Earlier on the same day, Spain had warned Italy of countermeasures if it did not lift its border checks promptly. However, Italy's government, led by far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, stated it "had no intention of revising the decision" before August 15th, anticipating a new wave of migration to Ceuta.

Meloni described the Italian measures, announced on July 31st, as an "extraordinary measure" aimed at "safeguarding national security and preventing possible repercussions for our nation."

The mass migration event saw approximately 72,000 people enter Ceuta, with 70,000 reportedly returned to Morocco, according to official Spanish figures. Human rights groups, including the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) and the European Coordination for Human Rights in Morocco, reported at least 141 deaths related to the incident, a toll expected to rise. Morocco's interior ministry confirmed 11 deaths on its side of the border, mostly by drowning.

The dispute between Spain and Italy, both EU and NATO members, has been described as "a torpedo fired at the hull of European unity." Spain has called Italy's border checks "unfair, contrary to the EU's interests and discriminatory for the Spanish population," urging the Italian government to end the measures and treat Spaniards like other European citizens.

Sources

France 24 English