Spain initiates document checks for Italian passengers

Madrid, Aug 8 (IANS) Document checks have been initiated for all passengers arriving from Italy to Spain, and these measures are valid until September 7, local media reported.

According to El Pais, about a hundred National Police Corps officers are manning ports and airports. Each flight is checked by two to four agents who randomly verify 5-10 per cent of travellers, equivalent to an average of 15 people on medium-sized planes and about 25 on larger ones.

Operations started after midnight at Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat airports, then extended to Seville, Malaga, Bilbao, Alicante, and Valencia. In the coming hours, it will also affect the Balearic and Canary Islands. Among the Italian airports most involved in the checks: Fiumicino, Ciampino, Malpensa, Naples, Venice, and Florence, Italian News Agency Adnkronos reported.

The Spanish government said Italy had unilaterally reintroduced border checks on travellers arriving from Spain on August 1 without prior notification, describing the measures as “unjustified, discriminatory and contrary to the interests of the European Union (EU).”

Spain has called on Italy to withdraw the measures immediately.

Earlier Friday, the Italian government said it would maintain temporary checks on third-country nationals arriving from Spain until at least Aug. 15, citing national security and border-management concerns.

Rome said it “does not accept ultimatums or external pressure” on matters concerning national security and border management.

It also stressed that the controls do not apply to Spanish or other EU citizens travelling by air or sea, adding that Italian border authorities would seek to minimise disruption to legitimate cross-border travel, reports Xinhua news agency.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the border control measures on July 31 following a massive influx of migrants into Ceuta. About 80,000 people entered the Spanish enclave at the end of July, nearly 75,000 of whom subsequently returned voluntarily.

Between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in the enclave, overwhelming reception facilities and creating a severe humanitarian emergency, Ceuta President Juan Jesus Vivas said on Thursday.

The influx has fueled tensions among EU member states over border controls and the possible onward movement of migrants within the Schengen area.

–IANS

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