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MADRID: Spain said on Friday it would establish border controls for flights and ships from Italy from midnight on Saturday until Sept 7 in a dispute with the neighbouring country over irregular migration.
Passport, nationality and visa checks would be conducted for Italian passengers and visitors from other countries arriving from Italy “amid the persistent irregular migratory pressure” from the Alpine country, a statement said.
Italy swiftly responded, saying it would not accept “ultimatums or impositions” from Madrid, adding that it would keep in place its suspension of Schengen rules for non-EU nationals arriving from Spain until Aug 15.
According to the statement from Madrid, the measures would apply while Rome applied its own measures after the mass migration rush by 72,000 people on Spain’s African enclave of Ceuta on July 30.
