Spain checks Italy travelers amid Ceuta dispute

Spain has started random border checks on travelers arriving from Italy, escalating a dispute over migration after Rome imposed similar controls in response to a surge of migrants into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta.

The checks began on Wednesday, days after Italy introduced its own border restrictions targeting travelers from Spain. The move follows a sharp rise in arrivals from Morocco into Ceuta, a Spanish territory on the continent’s northern coast. Spanish authorities say most of the migrants were quickly returned to Morocco, but Madrid has accused Italy of failing to curb “persistent irregular migration” through its own borders. The dispute highlights growing tensions within the European Union over how to manage migration flows.

The European Commission has downplayed the impact, calling the restrictions temporary and insisting they will not undermine the Schengen zone, the EU’s passport-free travel area. A spokesperson said the measures are legal under Schengen rules, which allow countries to reintroduce internal border checks for up to six months in cases of serious threats to public order or internal security. The checks are expected to last until the situation stabilizes, though no official end date has been set.

Analysts warn the tit-for-tat border controls could signal deeper strains in EU migration policy. While Spain and Italy both insist their actions are lawful, the dispute raises questions about solidarity within the bloc. The European Union has struggled to agree on a unified approach to migration, with some countries pushing for stricter controls and others advocating for shared responsibility. The latest spat comes as the bloc prepares to overhaul its asylum rules, a process already bogged down by divisions. For now, travelers face longer waits at borders, and the dispute underscores the fragile state of cooperation on one of Europe’s most divisive issues.