Italy, Spain extend border checks over Ceuta influx

Italy and Spain have extended reciprocal border checks for 15 days in a dispute linked to last month's large migrant influx into Ceuta, the Spanish territory in North Africa.

Italy's interior ministry said Monday it was extending checks because the factors that led to their introduction on August 1 remained relevant. It said it was taking into account initiatives launched by Spain and the European Union to move the situation toward normalisation.

Spain's interior ministry, which imposed border checks for travellers arriving from Italy for one month from August 8, responded by announcing its own 15-day extension.

Italy and Spain do not share a land border, but passengers arriving on flights now go through passport checks. That is normally not the case because both countries are members of the Schengen free-travel zone.

Ceuta is not part of Schengen. Travellers continuing from Ceuta to mainland Spain must pass border controls.

More than 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta on July 30 and 31, swimming or crossing on foot from neighbouring Morocco in a chaotic influx that left scores dead and renewed tensions in the European Union over migration.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was among EU leaders who called for Spain to be suspended from the Schengen area, although such a move is legally impossible.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Monday that the migrant rush was still under investigation, while ruling out responsibility by Moroccan authorities. He also denounced misinformation spread by what he called the “ultra-right”.

Most migrants returned to Morocco within hours, but thousands remain in Ceuta, many living rough on the streets. Ceuta covers 18 square kilometres, or seven square miles.