Source: Fortune.com
Summary
Spain and Italy are engaged in a diplomatic spat over migration policies after tens of thousands of migrants arrived in Spain’s territory of Ceuta. Italy imposed border controls on Spanish citizens, prompting Spain to retaliate with its own controls on Italian travelers. The feud began after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized Spain’s progressive migration policies, which she claims led to the sudden influx of migrants. The European Union has criticized Spain’s policies, and the situation has reignited the immigration debate within the EU.
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The numbers tell one story. Spain’s government announced border controls on Italian travelers in response to Italy’s decision to impose sanctions on visitors from Spain. Italians arriving at Barcelona airport were subject to random police checks. The Spanish government said the controls would stay in place for at least a month. The feud was triggered after the sudden arrival of 72,000 migrants from Morocco at Spain’s North African territory. The situation has reignited the immigration debate within the European Union. The EU has criticized Spain’s policies, and hawkish leaders like Meloni point to such policies as responsible for the massive influx.
The announcement sounds familiar. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni rejected Spain’s warning to lift its own restrictions by an Aug. 9 deadline. The Spanish government said the controls would stay in place for at least a month. The EU has rules that allow member states to temporarily reintroduce controls at internal borders in case of a serious threat, but says border controls should be applied as a last resort in exceptional situations.
A familiar phase. The situation has reignited the immigration debate within the European Union. The EU has criticized Spain’s policies, and hawkish leaders like Meloni point to such policies as responsible for the massive influx. The EU’s visa-free travel area, known as Schengen, allows citizens of most EU countries to travel easily across borders for work and pleasure.
Original observation: The border controls are a game of diplomatic chicken, with each side waiting for the other to blink.
Author: Evan Null
