Spain Demands Removal Of Italy Border Controls, Warns Of Response
Spain warns Italy over continued border controls.
The Spanish government has warned Italy that it will take “proportional measures” if Rome does not remove border controls affecting travellers from Spain by Sunday. Madrid has urged Italy to end the restrictions, calling them unfair and contrary to the interests of the European Union. Italy temporarily suspended parts of the Schengen agreement with Spain and reintroduced border checks following a surge in migrant arrivals into Ceuta last week. The decision has led to diplomatic tensions between the two European nations, with Spain demanding equal treatment for its citizens travelling within the EU.
The Spanish government’s warning came after a video conference meeting chaired by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez with senior ministers to discuss the situation in Ceuta. Madrid said the restrictions were “unjust” and “discriminatory” and asked the Italian government to restore normal movement conditions for Spanish travellers.
Spanish authorities are also dealing with a major migrant trafficking investigation in the Mediterranean. Police announced the dismantling of what they described as one of the largest criminal networks involved in migrant smuggling, resulting in the arrest of 78 people and the seizure of 18 high-speed boats.
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According to investigators, the network allegedly transported synthetic drugs such as ecstasy from Spain to Algeria and used return journeys to smuggle migrants to Spain’s Mediterranean coast and Ibiza. Authorities believe the group carried out at least 64 migrant trafficking operations, bringing more than 2,000 people into Spain and generating over 24 million euros.
Police said migrants were transported in highly dangerous conditions, often packed into boats travelling at high speeds in difficult sea conditions. The operation, carried out with support from Europol and police forces from France, Portugal and Poland, led to the arrest of four alleged leaders and the seizure of boats valued at more than five million euros.
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