Italy extends border controls with Spain by 15 days, Spain responds with the same measure

In the dispute over how to deal with migrants, Italy has extended border controls with Spain by a further 15 days. This was announced by the Interior Ministry in Rome. In response, Spain also announced an extension of its controls for travelers from Italy - also by 15 days.

The measure was taken by the right-wing government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni following the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants in the Spanish North African exclave of Ceuta a month ago. Rome had argued that its borders needed to be protected because of the influx of people into Ceuta.

However, there was no evidence that any of the migrants from Ceuta had made their way to Italy. They weren't even allowed into mainland Spain. Critics therefore viewed Meloni's move as symbolic politics motivated by domestic politics.

Accusations towards Russia and Israel

A month after the crowds, Spain is still investigating the causes of the events, according to the government. “We are continuing to investigate,” said Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on radio station SER.

At the same time, Sánchez accused social networks with “connections to Russia and Israel” of fueling the crowds with false reports. It falsely claimed that migrants who reached Ceuta by swimming would be allowed to stay in Spain. Investigations by the EU Diplomatic Service (EEAS) pointed to these actors, explained Sánchez.

If both countries intervened in this matter, it was not out of interest for the migrants, but because Spain had denounced Israel's "genocide" in the Gaza Strip and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, Sánchez added. Israel spoke of “a blatant lie.”

Sánchez defends Morocco

In the interview, Sánchez firmly rejected speculation that Morocco was involved in the onslaught. Morocco cooperated immediately and comprehensively with the Spanish authorities during the crisis. Spain's head of government, on the other hand, also criticized an "international right-wing extremist movement" that always uses the issue of migration "to attack and divide not only Spain, but also Europe."

On July 30 and 31, more than 72,000 migrants irregularly crossed the border from Morocco to the Spanish exclave. According to local authorities in Ceuta, at least 100 people were killed. Spanish opposition parties and human rights groups had accused Morocco of deliberately allowing the stampede.