Spain has announced sweeping temporary border controls on travellers arriving from Italy, dramatically escalating a migration dispute between two major European Union nations.

The Spanish government confirmed on Friday, August 7, that the new measures will apply to passengers arriving from Italy by air and sea, with the controls taking effect from midnight on Saturday and remaining in place until September 7, 2026.

Under the new arrangement, Spanish authorities are expected to carry out passport, nationality and visa checks on Italian passengers as well as other travellers entering Spain from Italy. Madrid described the action as a response to what it called persistent irregular migration pressure originating from Italy.

The decision comes after Italy introduced its own border checks on people arriving from Spain following the massive migrant crossings into Ceuta, Spain’s North African territory, in late July.

Approximately 72,000 people attempted to cross into Ceuta during the unprecedented migration surge, with dozens reportedly dying during the chaotic situation. Most of those who entered have since returned to Morocco, although hundreds of unaccompanied minors remain in the Spanish territory.

Madrid strongly opposed Italy’s restrictions, describing them as unjustified, discriminatory and damaging to European unity.

Spain had initially demanded that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government remove the controls, warning that retaliatory measures could follow. However, Rome refused to back down, declaring that Italy would not accept foreign “ultimatums” concerning national security and border protection.

Italy says its restrictions will remain until authorities are satisfied that there is no further migration wave, terrorism or security threat, or movement of irregular migrants towards other European countries.

The escalating confrontation now puts fresh pressure on the European Union’s Schengen system, which normally allows passport-free travel between participating countries.

With both Madrid and Rome refusing to retreat, the growing border battle threatens to deepen political tensions over how Europe should respond to irregular migration while preserving freedom of movement across the continent.