Spain extends entry controls on travellers from Italy until October 22
In short
Spain has extended its entry controls at ports and airports for travellers arriving from Italy until October 22, under a decree published in the country's official gazette on October 6 local time. The Spanish government said the circumstances that prompted the measure still exist, though it does not rule out revising the deadline. Jiemian reported the move is Spain's fourth response to Italy's own controls on travellers from Spain, which Italy tied to migration in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Read the full story 1 min read
Spain has extended its entry controls at ports and airports for travellers arriving from Italy until October 22, according to a decree published in the country's official gazette on October 6 local time. Chinese business outlets reported the move the same afternoon: CLS cited the official gazette, Yicai carried the headline, and Jiemian gave a fuller account attributed to CCTV News. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The Spanish government said the circumstances that led to the measure remain in place, and that it had therefore decided to continue the controls. It added that it does not rule out modifying the planned deadline should the situation change, according to Jiemian. [ 3 ]
Jiemian reported that the step is the fourth measure Spain has taken in response to the Italian government, after Italy decided to again extend its own controls on travellers from Spain over migration in the autonomous city of Ceuta. [ 3 ]
The same account traces the sequence: Italy began border checks on people arriving from Spain on August 1 following a large influx of migrants into Ceuta, and on August 31 and September 15 announced two separate 15-day extensions. Spain responded by starting temporary checks on Italian arrivals on August 8, and on August 31 announced a 15-day extension of its own. [ 3 ]
The documents give the duration and location of the Spanish measure — entry controls at ports and airports — but no detail on how the checks are carried out or how many travellers they affect. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
Mutual border checks between two European Union members affect travellers passing through Spanish and Italian ports and airports, and add friction to a dispute over migration routes into the enclave of Ceuta. The Spanish government's statement that the deadline could yet be changed leaves the arrangement open.
Key facts
- Spain extended its entry controls at ports and airports for travellers arriving from Italy until October 22. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The extension was issued in a decree published in Spain's official gazette on October 6 local time. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The Spanish government said the circumstances that led to the measure remain in place and that it may modify the planned deadline if the situation changes. [ 3 ]
- Jiemian reported this is the fourth measure Spain has taken in response to the Italian government. [ 3 ]
- Italy began border checks on arrivals from Spain on August 1 after a large influx of migrants into Ceuta, and announced two 15-day extensions, according to Jiemian. [ 3 ]
- Spain began temporary border checks on Italian arrivals on August 8 and announced a 15-day extension on August 31. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the controls will end on October 22 as planned. The Spanish government said it does not rule out modifying the planned deadline if the situation changes, so the end date is not fixed.
- The specific checks carried out at ports and airports and their practical effect on travellers. The documents state that entry controls apply at ports and airports but give no detail on how they are carried out.
- The scale and current status of the migration influx into Ceuta. Only one document mentions it, and only as background to the border measures.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Italy begins border checks on people arriving from Spain, following a large influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, according to Jiemian. [ 3 ]
- Spain begins temporary border checks on travellers arriving from Italy. [ 3 ]
- Italy announces a 15-day extension of its measures; Spain responds with its own 15-day extension. [ 3 ]
- Italy announces a second 15-day extension of its controls. [ 3 ]
- CLS reports that the Spanish official gazette has published a decree extending controls on travellers from Italy until October 22. [ 1 ]
- Yicai publishes the same headline. [ 2 ]
- Jiemian publishes a fuller account citing CCTV News. [ 3 ]