MADRID, SPAIN / RankWire.AI / – Starting at midnight on Aug. 8, Spain has initiated temporary border inspections for individuals arriving from Italy via air and sea routes. These measures are set to remain in effect until Sept. 7. The move follows Italy’s decision to impose its own temporary controls on arrivals from Spain, adding a layer of document verification to routes that usually function under the European Union’s Schengen area of free internal movement.
On the first day of enforcement, Spain’s Interior Ministry inspected 199 travelers on 12 flights coming from Italy. Checks were carried out at major airports in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Alicante, and Valencia. These procedures include verifying passports, nationality, and visa status for Italian passengers as well as other travelers arriving from Italy. Despite these temporary controls, air and sea travel between Spain and Italy continues uninterrupted during this period.
Italy introduced its own border controls on Aug. 1, following a significant influx of migrants into Ceuta, Spain’s North African enclave. Italian officials stated their measures would remain in place at least until Aug. 15. Rome clarified that these checks target non-EU nationals arriving from Spain by air or sea, while Italian and other EU citizens are excluded from these restrictions, as specified by the Italian government’s announcement.
Ceuta migration surge triggers new border controls
Approximately 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta during the mass migration from Morocco that began in late July. By Aug. 4, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska reported that around 70,000 of those individuals had left the enclave. Located on the North African coast and outside the Schengen Agreement, Ceuta experienced this migration episode just before Italy decided to reintroduce checks for specific travelers arriving from Spain, leading to Spain’s reciprocal border measures.
Madrid had urged Italy to revoke its restrictions prior to announcing its own border checks on Friday. The Spanish government criticized the Italian controls as unjustified and discriminatory against Spain, while Italy maintained that its measures would stay in place. On Sunday, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed hope that Rome could lift the restrictions once the risk level diminishes. Spain has set Sept. 7 as the planned end date for its temporary border checks on arrivals from Italy.
Temporary border controls are permitted under Schengen rules
Within the Schengen Zone, 29 European countries generally allow travelers to cross internal borders without routine passport controls. However, EU regulations permit member states to reimpose internal border controls if a significant threat to public policy or internal security is identified. The European Commission states that such measures are a last resort and must be proportionate to the risk. Spain and Italy remain part of the Schengen Area while these temporary controls are in effect.
For travelers, Spain’s decision entails that those arriving from Italy may now face identity and immigration document inspections at Spanish airports and seaports. On the first day, Spain’s Interior Ministry conducted checks at six major airports, examining nearly 200 passengers. Italy continues its separate restrictions on select arrivals from Spain until at least Aug. 15, according to its current schedule. The Spanish controls are expected to run until Sept. 7, with no suspension of general air or sea travel between the two nations during this period.