Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has criticized Spain’s recent decision to implement border controls on travelers arriving from Italy. He described this measure, which mirrors Italy’s own actions against Spanish arrivals, as “incomprehensible and completely unacceptable,” according to reports.
Starting Saturday and lasting until September 7, the Spanish government introduced checks at ports and airports for passengers arriving from Italy. This response follows a similar restriction placed by Italy on travelers from Spain amid the ongoing crisis in Ceuta.
Ceuta, one of Spain’s two exclaves on the Moroccan coast, experienced a surge of illegal migrants at the end of July, with 72,000 crossing the border—the only land border between the EU and Africa. According to the Madrid government, 70,000 of these migrants have since returned to Morocco.
Spain and Italy, both Schengen Area members, do not share a land border, meaning these measures impact air and sea arrivals only.
“We are not against Spain, but we have a duty to protect our borders,” Tajani stated in a Sunday interview with La Stampa, expressing concerns that some migrants could hold jihadist views. He emphasized the unacceptability of Spain’s reaction to the crisis.
Tajani: “Italy is the Destination with the Highest Risk”
The minister dismissed claims that Italy’s actions were purely symbolic and that the likelihood of migrants traveling from Ceuta to Italy was minimal. He pointed out, “Where do they go after arriving in Spain? Italy, as a destination, is the country with the highest risk. We are not Germany or Norway.”
When asked if Italy’s response was proportional, the Italian official referenced information suggesting that Ceuta could face another wave of migrants. “We hope to lift the suspension soon, as soon as the risk is no longer present,” he noted.
While Tajani had publicly praised Spain for its handling of the crisis, he argues that the Iberian nation has not been as vigilant as it should be. He criticized Spain’s program for regularizing illegal migrants, claiming it sends a negative message that jeopardizes security for all.
