Spain and Italy to End Border Checks After Ceuta Migrant Dispute

Matteo Piantedosi and Fernando Grande-Marlaska agreed by phone that Italy and Spain will not extend their reciprocal border checks. Spain’s last extension expires at 24:00 on Thursday, October 22; controls lift automatically from Friday the 23rd. More than 70,000 people had crossed illegally into Ceuta from Morocco before Italy reintroduced the checks. The call followed talks between Giorgia Meloni and Pedro Sánchez on the sidelines of last week’s EU summit. Checks affected air and maritime travel only, since the countries share no land border. In statements the governments said the decision, reached after a careful assessment of the situation, will be accompanied by enhanced information-sharing measures to ensure the full security of the common Schengen area. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares called Italy’s initial move “absurd” and “a disgrace.” Madrid called the measures “unjust, contrary to European Union interests, and discriminatory to the population of Spain.” ANSA dates Italy’s start to August 1; Reuters to July 31. Spain began its checks on August 8. Ceuta lies outside the Schengen area.