Italy Strikes Back: Border Controls with Spain Begin After Meloni’s ‘Stab’

Spain and Italy are now checking travelers at their shared borders, a rare breakdown in trust between two EU allies. The move comes after Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, imposed controls on people arriving from Spain, a decision Madrid calls a “hypocritical spectacle.” The dispute follows a migrant crisis in the Spanish city of Ceuta, on Morocco’s coast. Spain handled the situation without force, focusing on humanitarian aid and avoiding direct blame of Morocco. But Meloni, known for her tough stance on immigration, activated a Schengen Area exception to stop travelers from Spain, even though most migrants had already returned to Morocco. Meloni’s action is seen as political theater. She faces pressure at home after losing a referendum and seeing a rival on the far right gain popularity. Her move against Spain, a close partner, has surprised many. Spain has responded with its own checks on travelers from Italy, starting Saturday and lasting until September 7. The EU is expected to mediate. The tension affects real people. Over 300,000 Italians live in Spain, and 30,000 Spaniards live in Italy. Many travelers were confused by the new controls. “We expected worse,” one said. Spain’s government says Meloni’s actions hurt citizens of both countries who share deep ties. The EU’s failure to speak with one voice, experts say, is a warning sign. The real tragedy, many argue, is the loss of life at the border, forgotten in a game of political interests.