08.08.2026 17:10
The expected retaliatory step has come in the migrant crisis escalating between Madrid and Rome. After the deadline Italy gave Spain to lift the border controls it had imposed on passengers arriving from Spain expired, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stood by his word. As of midnight, identity and passport checks on all flights arriving from Italy have officially begun, and this standoff between the two European countries has once again shaken the principles of free movement in the Schengen Area.
Acting on the instructions of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who has called Italy's bluff regarding the migrant situation in Ceuta, Spain has taken action. Following the expiration of the deadline Madrid had given Rome, identity and passport checks on flights arriving from Italy officially came into effect as of midnight. With this move by Sanchez, tensions between the two Mediterranean countries have escalated, and the principles of free movement within the Schengen Area have once again suffered a heavy blow.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez CRISIS ERUPTED WITH MIGRANT INFLUX IN CEUTA The process that strained relations between the two countries began at the end of July when approximately 78,000 people crossed into Ceuta, Spain's territory in North Africa, via Morocco. The government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, citing "national security" concerns, decided to impose border controls on third-country nationals arriving by sea and air from Spain starting August 1st. Spain, however, argued that most of those entering Ceuta had already been sent back to Morocco and that the region is subject to a different status from Schengen rules, stating that concerns about migrants moving to continental Europe were unfounded.
ROME RESPONDS TO MADRID'S WARNING: "WE DO NOT ACCEPT ULTIMATUMS" As tensions escalated, the Spanish government made a clear call to Rome, demanding the removal of the controls by August 9th, and warning that otherwise, countermeasures would be taken. However, Italian Prime Minister Meloni responded defiantly to Madrid's warning, saying "Italy does not accept ultimatums," and announced that the practice would be extended until at least August 15th. As Italy refused to back down, the Sanchez administration kept its word and implemented the retaliation decision as soon as the deadline passed.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni CONTROLS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 7 According to information in the Spanish press, these strict controls on passengers arriving from Italy are planned to continue until September 7th. This power struggle, escalating with mutual steps, has once again brought to the surface the deep disagreements within the European Union on the topics of migration management and border security.