Following a serious diplomatic spat over irregular migration, Spain reinstated border checks on travellers arriving from Italy at its six biggest airports, with nearly 200 people checked on the first day of the new restrictions.
According to a statement released late on Saturday, Spain's Interior Ministry checked 199 passengers on 12 flights from Italy arriving at airports in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Alicante and Valencia.
The move came after Italy introduced its own border measures, citing the arrival of around 72,000 migrants in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta on July 30. Spain announced on Friday that its border controls for passengers arriving by air and sea from Italy would remain in place until Sept. 7, according to Reuters.
Italy suspended Schengen rules governing its border with Spain on Aug. 1, introducing targeted checks on non-EU citizens arriving from Spain by air or sea. Rome has said the measures will remain in place until at least Aug. 15 and will not apply to Spanish or other EU citizens travelling to Italy.
In an interview published on Sunday, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told daily Corriere della Sera, "We hope to be able to lift the suspension soon, as soon as there is no longer any risk."
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The Schengen Area allows passport-free travel between participating European countries, although member states can temporarily reinstate border controls for reasons related to security or public order.
Spain's checks on inbound Italian flights and ships began at midnight on Saturday and are scheduled to remain in place until Sept. 7, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two countries over migration.
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