Italy and Spain have reached an agreement to eliminate border controls imposed on each other’s citizens, as announced by the Interior Ministry in Rome on Friday. This decision concludes a three-month dispute triggered by an influx of migrants heading to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, according to reports from Reuters.
An official statement from the Italian government revealed that the interior ministers of both nations held a phone conversation and decided against extending the suspension of the European Union’s Schengen agreements regarding free movement.
“The decision, made after a careful assessment of the situation, will be accompanied by enhanced information-sharing measures to ensure the full security of our shared Schengen area,” the Rome ministry stated.
On July 31, Italy’s right-wing government suspended the free movement agreements at its border with Spain, citing concerns that migrants entering Ceuta could travel further into Italian territory.
In retaliation, Madrid implemented similar measures against Rome, describing Italy’s actions as “unjust, contrary to the interests of the European Union, and discriminatory against the Spanish population.”
Since then, both countries have repeatedly extended border controls amid unprecedented diplomatic tensions. As they do not share a land border, these measures primarily affected arrivals at airports.
