Spain warns Italy of countermeasures over Schengen checks

A group of migrants wave from the coastal rocks near the border post of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on August 2, 2026. Picture: Henry Nicholls / AFP Spain on Friday threatened Italy with countermeasures if Rome did not lift this week its one-month suspension of the free-travel Schengen agreement, introduced after the mass migrant rush to Ceuta. The rare spat between the EU and NATO allies came aftertens of thousands of migrants crossed from Moroccoto the Spanish north African territory last week in an unprecedented and deadly rush.

The scenesinfuriated other European Union membersthat back a hard line on irregular immigration and the protection of the bloc’s external borders, including far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The Spanish government again hit out at Italy on Friday for a measure it described as “unfair, contrary to the EU’s interests and discriminatory for the Spanish population”. “We urge the government of Italy to rectify, put an end to the checks and treat Spaniards like other European citizens,” the government said in a statement.

“If it does not do so before the end of Sunday, August 9, Spain will be obliged to adopt proportional measures to protect the interests and dignity of its citizens.” The statement did not specify what the reprisals would be. Italy’s measures have included the closure of maritime and air entry points as well as the reinforcement of land border controls. The suspension of Italy’s Schengen agreement with Spain, announced on July 31, was an “extraordinary measure” intended to “safeguard national security and prevent possible repercussions for our nation”, Meloni said.

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She was amongEU leaderswho called for Spain to be suspended from the visa-free Schengen travel zone after the Ceuta incident, despite such a move being legally impossible. Italy’s coalition government has sought to stop the tens of thousands of migrants who land in small boats on the country’s shores each year. The Spanish government warned against “creating rifts and sterile conflicts driven by internal electoral motives” and said “we trust that pro-European sentiment, common sense and good faith prevail”.

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