Spain imposes border checks on Italian travellers in escalating migration row

Tens of thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in a mass influx that overwhelmed border controls and triggered a diplomatic crisis within the European Union. The crossings, which took place over roughly 24 hours, saw around 60,000 people enter the tiny North African territory, which has a population of only about 85,000.

At least 67 people are confirmed to have died during the crossings, many of them drowning while trying to swim around the border fence. The death toll was later revised upwards, with some reports putting it at 72, 75 or 86 as specialist divers searched the waters.

Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, travelled to Ceuta and condemned the influx as "an attack, a violation of the territorial integrity of Spain". He blamed human trafficking networks for spreading false information about a Spanish Supreme Court ruling that migrants intercepted at sea could not be summarily returned.

The Spanish government deployed military reinforcements and police to restore order. Within days, the vast majority of those who had crossed returned to Morocco, many voluntarily, others escorted back by Spanish security forces.

The political fallout, however, continued. Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, suspended the EU's border-free Schengen arrangements with Spain for a month, citing security concerns. Spain reacted angrily, accusing Italy of political point-scoring, and later imposed its own border checks on travellers arriving from Italy, including Italian citizens.

The row escalated further as Spain introduced temporary border checks on all travellers arriving from Italy, with police carrying out spot checks on around 10 per cent of passengers on flights between the two countries. Italy had earlier imposed restrictions on third-country nationals arriving from Spain, which it said would last until at least mid-August.

The European Union scheduled emergency talks for the following Tuesday, with 22 member states calling for coordinated action to strengthen the EU's external borders. The European Commission proposed a five-point plan including stronger cooperation with partner countries, swifter returns, reinforced border surveillance, early warning systems and action against smuggling networks.

Questions remained over Morocco's role in the crisis. Some analysts suggested the Moroccan authorities had deliberately allowed or encouraged the crossings as a warning to Spain over its warming relations with Algeria. Moroccan government sources denied any involvement. Spain's prime minister avoided directly blaming Morocco, saying the country was cooperating with the return of those who had entered Ceuta illegally.

The crisis also drew comment from Donald Trump, who claimed it showed the dangers of liberal immigration laws. In Spain, the far-right Vox party called the influx an invasion, while residents of Ceuta expressed concern about the sudden surge in population.

Spain began installing a 500-metre floating barrier along the sea border with Morocco to prevent a repeat of the crossings. The EU's migration commissioner, Magnus Brunner, said the bloc had "passed this test" but acknowledged that lessons needed to be learned.