Italy, Spain extend tit-for-tat border checks in wake of migrant rush

Italy and Spain do not share a land border, but the controls were introduced at maritime and air entry points used by transportation services from the other country.(AFP) — Italy said Tuesday that it had extended border checks for travelers from Spain for another 15 days, prompting a tit-for-tat response from Madrid amid a dispute between the two European Union members.The diplomatic showdown began Aug. 1, when Italy’s Interior Ministry introduced the temporary measures after tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco rushed into the Spanish territory of Ceuta in North Africa in July.Rome’s initial one-month suspension of its free-movement Schengen agreement with Spain drew condemnation from Madrid and other EU nations and prompted Madrid to impose reciprocal controls on travelers arriving from Italy.Italy’s Interior Ministry said in a note Tuesday that the extension was deemed necessary following assessments by a border security committee.“High risks to internal security persist, alongside potential dangers linked to possible terrorist infiltration,” the ministry said.Spain’s Interior Ministry said Tuesday that its border checks on travelers from Italy, introduced Aug. 8, would remain in effect until Oct. 8, noting that the reasons for the checks “remain unchanged.”In a statement, it said that “a change in those circumstances may warrant a modification of the envisaged timeframe.”Italy and Spain do not share a land border, but the controls were introduced at maritime and air entry points used by transportation services from the other country.The visa-free Schengen travel zone encompasses 29 European countries that have officially abolished controls at their shared borders.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads