Meloni digs in on Spain border checks: travellers face two more weeks of delays

The border checks between Spain and Italy, two of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations and during the peak of summer, were only ever meant to last a few weeks. Italy has now pushed them back again, while Spain has also matched the move, extending its own checks into late September, meaning anyone travelling between the two countries faces further checks into autumn, as a dispute triggered by the Ceuta migrant crisis refuses to cool off. 

Rome renews its border checks for a further 15 days

Italy’s interior ministry confirmed on Monday August 31 that it is extending temporary border checks on travellers from Spain, pushing the measure through until Tuesday September 15. The move renews a suspension of Schengen’s normal free-movement rules that Italy first introduced on Saturday August 1, after the mass migrant crossing into Ceuta in late July. It is the first time Rome has extended the checks since they came into force a month ago. For more background on why Ceuta has become central to the row, and what it means for Spain’s border politics, read our explainer on the Ceuta crisis 

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said the government had “no desire for a clash with Madrid” and insisted the checks “concerned only third-country nationals, with no impact on Italians, Spaniards or other Europeans.” He added that ministers would make “a calm assessment” before the new deadline arrives.

Why Rome says the situation in Ceuta still hasn’t eased

Piantedosi said the checks remained necessary because “the situation in Ceuta is anything but improved,” with an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 people who crossed from Morocco still living in the Spanish enclave. More than 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco over the single 24-hour period in late July, one of the largest crossings the frontier has seen, prompting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to threaten “extraordinary measures” against Spain.

Italy has framed the border checks as a way to stop migrants who reach Spain from later travelling on to Italian territory, despite Ceuta sitting outside the Schengen area, meaning anyone there cannot yet move freely to mainland Spain, let alone Italy.

Madrid brands the extension ‘unjustifiable’

Spain’s response was immediate. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares condemned Monday’s extension as “an unjustified and unjustifiable affront to the dignity of Spaniards,” and accused Rome of acting for domestic political reasons rather than genuine security concerns.

It is not the first time Albares has used that language. Spain hit back with its own border checks on Italian arrivals earlier in August, summoning Italy’s ambassador after accusing Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani of “partisan political rhetoric rather than an example of European solidarity.” Spain’s Interior Ministry confirmed on Monday August 31 that it has matched Rome’s move, extending its own checks on Italian arrivals for a further 15 days beyond their original September 7 expiry. The Ministry said the checks were far from a formality, having already screened 1,066 flights carrying 12,337 third-country nationals arriving from Italy by August 31.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez went even further, branding the checks as having “no sense” and pointing out that Spain had previously helped Italy manage migrant arrivals on the island of Lampedusa.

Meloni’s government faces pressure from the far-right Futuro Nazionale party ahead of elections next year, with immigration a central issue, while Spain’s opposition has argued that reinstating checks damages relations with Madrid for no clear benefit. 

What it means for anyone travelling between Spain and Italy

Flights and ferries between the two countries continue to operate as normal, and Italy insists that Spaniards, Italians and other EU citizens will not be affected by the checks in practice. When the measure first came into force in August, however, all passengers arriving by plane or ferry from Spain were required to show valid identification, adding to processing times at Italian ports and airports. Anyone travelling either way over the coming fortnight should expect the same.

Both governments now have a fresh deadline to watch. Italy’s checks are due to lift or renew again by September 15, while Spain has pushed its own measures on Italian arrivals further into September, meaning the two countries’ checks are no longer set to expire on the same day.