Spain has imposed one-month border checks on air and sea arrivals from Italy, escalating a dispute over Italy’s earlier restrictions following a mass migrant crossing into Ceuta. The row matters because it tests the EU’s border-free Schengen arrangements and exposes sharp differences between Madrid and Rome over migration and security.

Italy introduced its measures after around 78,000 migrants entered the Spanish exclave from Morocco, arguing they could travel onwards; Spain says this is impossible because they cannot enter the Schengen area. Most arrivals were returned within days, but about 1,400 minors remain in Ceuta and roughly 100 people are believed to have died during the crossing. Italy’s controls are due to last until at least 15 August, while Spain’s checks are scheduled to run until 7 September.