Italy extends border controls with Spain for 15 days over Ceuta migration concerns

Air and maritime controls prolonged by Italy

On Wednesday, 30 September 2026, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi enacted a further 15-day extension of border controls on travelers arriving from Spain. The ministerial decision maintains active checks across all air and maritime entry points connecting the two Mediterranean countries. Piantedosi finalized the decree after consulting the Committee for Analysis on Immigration and Border Security, which convened for a dedicated evaluation session in Rome on Wednesday morning. Following the committee review, the Italian Ministry of the Interior, known as the Viminale, formally notified the European Commission in Brussels regarding the 15-day prolongation. Italian authorities also communicated the decision directly to the interior ministers of all other European Union member states to ensure coordination across the bloc.

Situation in Ceuta and national security objectives

The Italian Interior Ministry justified the ongoing suspension of Schengen rules by pointing to the current security situation in the Spanish North African exclave of Ceuta. The 30 September renewal marks exactly two months since the start of a mass entry of between 70,000 and 80,000 people into the Spanish autonomous city. Italian interior officials stated that the critical issues and security vulnerabilities identified during earlier assessments continue to persist in the region. Rome declared that the primary objective of the border measures is to strengthen the protection of European borders and guarantee Italian national security. The ministry also cited the need to prevent and counter potential terrorist threats that could exploit irregular migration pathways into southern Europe.

Succession of renewals under the Meloni executive

The decree represents the latest in a series of extensions enacted by the government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Piantedosi previously announced a preceding 15-day extension on 15 September 2026 through a statement published on the social media platform X. Italian authorities have reiterated the same core arguments during each extension cycle since the initial introduction of the checks. The Italian interior minister emphasized that internal risks remain elevated, requiring sustained vigilance across transport hubs. The Italian executive has defended the measures as a necessary national safeguard despite diplomatic friction between Rome and Madrid.

High levels of risk to internal security persist, in addition to a possible danger related to potential terrorist infiltration.

Spanish opposition and reciprocal border verifications

The repeated prolongation of border controls by Italy has encountered strong opposition from the Spanish government. In response to Rome's successive announcements, Spain introduced reciprocal measures targeting travelers arriving from Italian ports and airports. The Spanish government re-established temporary controls at its internal borders for sea and air transit originating in Italy. Madrid justified its reciprocal screening by citing the persistent irregular migratory pressure that Italy itself continues to experience. With both governments maintaining their respective verifications, passengers traveling between Spain and Italy by air or ferry remain subject to systematic identity and travel document checks across transit hubs.