Following Italy’s rejection of its ultimatum to lift the border checks imposed in response to the Ceuta migration crisis, Spain has in turn announced that it will carry out checks on travellers from Italy.
From midnight on Saturday, travellers from Italy would initially be subject to random checks at ports and airports until September 7, Spanish state broadcaster RTVE reported, citing a decree issued by the Madrid government.
The checks are intended to verify the identity and nationality of travellers and, in the case of third-country nationals, their visa or residence permit.
The reason given was the “persistent pressure of irregular migration” to which Italy is exposed.
The Spanish government had threatened Italy with countermeasures if it did not lift its own border checks, ordered last Saturday in response to the mass influx of migrants into Spain’s North African exclave of Ceuta.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made it clear that she would not bow to any ultimatum.