Spain on Friday issued an ultimatum to Italy’s right-wing government to end border controls introduced in response to the migration crisis in the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta.
“If it fails to do so by Sunday, August 9, Spain will be forced to take proportionate measures to protect the interests and dignity of its citizens,” Spanish public broadcaster RTVE and other local media quoted a statement from the left-wing government as saying.
Madrid considers the controls “unfair, contrary to the interests of the EU, and discriminatory towards the Spanish population,” it said.
There was no immediate response from the government in Rome.
Italy suspended the Schengen rules on free movement with Spain last Saturday in response to the migration crisis in Ceuta, where around 72,000 people temporarily crossed into the territory from neighbouring Morocco.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the border checks as an “extraordinary measure” taken “to guarantee national security and prevent possible repercussions” for Italy.
Italy shares no land border with Spain, so the measure announced by Meloni applies to maritime and air travel. The checks focus primarily on travellers who are not EU citizens.
Migrants who have entered Ceuta have no way of flying or taking a ferry to the Spanish mainland and travelling on to Italy from there.