Spain Introduces Random Identity Checks for Travellers Arriving from Italy

Spain has imposed checks on travellers from Italy in retaliation to the Italian government’s decision to maintain similar checks on Spanish visitors.

Italy originally introduced checks following the incident at the end of July, when 72,000 people entered Ceuta, causing 80 deaths. This caused Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares to react angrily, pointing out that none had reached mainland Europe, and that Italy has allowed more irregular migrants to enter than Spain in recent years.

Giorgia Meloni’s government in Rome said that it “had no intention of revising the decision”, prompting Spain to introduce the checks.

The checks will be carried out on randomly selected visitors from Italy, who will be required to show their identity. While minor, the checks are a symbolic exception to the principle of free movement withing the Schengen Zone.