Spain has extended border checks for passengers arriving from Italy, following Giorgia Meloni’s government decision to maintain its own controls on travelers from Spain. Confirmed on Monday, the move means document inspections at Spanish ports and airports will continue for at least two more weeks, primarily targeting non-EU citizens. The Spanish Interior Ministry said the extension follows Italy’s decision to prolong its temporary controls, first introduced on August 1 after a surge of migrants entered Ceuta at the end of July.
Italy’s exceptional measure, originally set to expire on August 31, was extended after the Italian Committee for Immigration and Border Security concluded that the conditions behind the reinstatement of checks remained unchanged. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi had warned that the security situation in Ceuta was still unstable and said a final decision on the controls would come as the deadline approached. On Monday, Rome officially notified EU authorities that it intended to keep the controls in place.
Under Spain’s reciprocal action, travelers from Italy will continue to face document checks on arrival. The Spanish Interior Ministry said the measure is particularly relevant for non-EU nationals, though officials may inspect all passengers. The Spanish government said the controls would remain in place as long as Italy continued to apply similar measures to Spanish arrivals. The ministry also confirmed that Piantedosi informed his Spanish counterpart, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, of the decision during a phone call described as constructive.
Italian authorities have justified the ongoing controls by citing security concerns, specifically the possibility that individuals linked to terrorist organizations could be among the migrants who recently arrived in Spain. No concrete evidence has been presented to support this claim. Italy also acknowledged Spain’s steps to address the situation and expressed hope for a return to normal conditions in the region.
In a radio interview with Cadena SER, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticized the Italian government’s stance, calling the situation “absurd” and arguing that Italy lacks a valid justification. Sánchez said the Schengen rules apply differently because Ceuta and Melilla are outside the Schengen Area. He added that migrants who entered Ceuta in late July have not reached mainland Spain.
Since the controls began, Spain has checked 1,066 flights carrying 12,337 third-country travelers from Italy, with around 1,800 officials involved. The measures reflect a broader shift in European attitudes following the Ceuta crisis: EU ministers have moved to support Spain and focus on criminal networks instead of criticizing Madrid’s migration policy. For more context on the EU’s developing position, see the analysis of ministerial support for Spain after the Ceuta incident in this recent report.
The reciprocal controls reflect ongoing tension between Spain and Italy over migration management and border security. Both governments are tracking developments and coordinating with EU institutions. The measures are expected to remain in place until authorities decide that security risks have sufficiently diminished and normal travel conditions can return.
For travelers, the extension means continued delays and additional checks at entry points between the two countries. The episode also shows the complexities of Schengen Area rules, particularly in Ceuta and Melilla, which are outside the passport-free zone. As migration pressures persist, both Spain and Italy are likely to take a cautious approach to border management in the coming weeks.
