Spain's border checks on Italy hit Sicily's summer travel lanes

Spain has begun imposing border checks on travellers arriving from Italy, escalating a dispute between the two EU partners over migration, France 24 reported. The move retaliates against similar controls Rome imposed after a surge of migrants crossed into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco, with the BBC citing an influx of about 78,000 people.

Italy's foreign minister called Spain's decision 'incomprehensible and completely unacceptable,' according to the Guardian, as travellers between the two countries faced new passport queues. The checks apply to all arrivals from Italy, including those flying from Sicilian airports such as Catania and Palermo, which serve as major gateways for summer tourism.

The European Union said the tit-for-tat restrictions are temporary and will have no lasting impact on the Schengen zone, according to France 24. But for Sicily, the timing is acute: August is the peak of the tourist season, when the island's airports and ferries carry thousands of visitors from across Europe.