Border crisis in Ceuta

Spain takes revenge on Italy – introduces border controls

Spain is introducing border controls for travelers from Italy, the Ministry of the Interior announced according to several media outlets.

This is a measure of revenge for Italy pausing Schengen cooperation with Spain and introducing border controls against the country after the migrant crisis in Ceuta.

The Spanish government today gave Italy the weekend to lift the border controls, which they call “unfair and discriminatory” and “a torpedo against European unity”.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni responded that she will not accept ultimatums from abroad.

The Spanish border controls against Italy will apply from midnight on Saturday until September 7.

Taxi drivers sentenced after migrant crisis in Ceuta

Morocco has sentenced seven taxi drivers to prison for up to six months and the equivalent of 10,000 kronor in fines for “aiding irregular migration”, writes the AP.

They are sentenced for driving migrants from the larger city of Tétouan to Fnideq, which borders Ceuta. These are the first sentences handed down in Morocco after last week’s migrant crisis in the Spanish exclave.

The local union for taxi drivers in Tétouan reacts with anger.

– Taxi drivers cannot be held responsible for what happened. They are being punished for having provided a service, says chairman Ali Younes. 

The Ceuta border crisis — the issue

• Almost 80,000 people crossed the border from Morocco to Spanish Ceuta in late July 2026.
• At least 100 people died during the border crisis, many by drowning while trying to swim to Ceuta.
• Almost all migrants returned voluntarily or were deported to Morocco, and none have made it to the Spanish mainland.
• The incident led to strong criticism of Spain from several EU countries, but after an emergency meeting, EU member states expressed support for Spain's actions.
• Morocco pointed to disinformation and social media as the driving force, while several experts accused Morocco of relaxing border controls.