Ministers seek to calm political tensions after cornering Pedro Sánchez in migration spat
Spain should not take Italy’s move to tighten up checks on their border personally, the Italian interior minister said on Tuesday.
“This is in no way a measure directed against Spain or any other partner,” Matteo Piantedosi told fellow EU ministers at an online meeting called to address the short-lived Ceuta migration crisis, according to remarks shared with journalists.
Piantedosi sought to take the heat out of the debate that has raged since last week, when Rome spearheaded criticism of Spain for its handling of the influx of some 60,000 Moroccans.
Giorgia Meloni’s government, backed by Denmark and 20 other countries, blamed Madrid for creating a pull factor with its pro-migration policies, and introduced checks on arrivals from Spain at its sea and air borders, set to last one month.
