Italy vows to maintain border checks despite Spain’s countermeasures threat

Madrid warns of ‘proportional measures’ if Rome does not put an end to checks amid fallout from Ceuta migrant crisis.Published On 7 Aug 20267 Aug 2026Italy has doubled down on its temporary reinstatement of border controls following the deadly rush of thousands of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, even after Madrid threatened retaliation.In a statement on Friday, the Italian government said it would not bow to “ultimatums or impositions” from ⁠Spain and would maintain border controls until at least August 15.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Ceuta’s leader says 100 died in border rush as up to 5,000 still in enclavelist 2 of 4How a social media campaign triggered huge migrant surge on Ceutalist 3 of 4Ceuta and Melilla: Why Europe’s African border remains a flashpointlist 4 of 4How the far right weaponised the Ceuta crisisend of listThe refusal came hours after the Spanish government declared a two-day deadline for Italy “to rectify, put an end to the checks and treat Spaniards like other European citizens”.“If it does not do so before the end of Sunday, August 9, Spain will be obliged to adopt proportional measures to protect the interests and dignity of its c...