Spain-Italy border spat threatens Alpine trade links

Spain has announced it will introduce temporary border checks on visitors from Italy in response to Rome imposing similar measures after a mass rush of people from Morocco into Ceuta, according to the Guardian.

The checks come after Italy suspended its participation in the Schengen free-travel agreement for one month following an influx of about 78,000 migrants from Morocco into the neighbouring Spanish exclave, the BBC reported. Spain had warned Italy it would impose entry checks unless Rome halts its controls by Sunday, Deutsche Welle said.

The rare spat between EU nations, which do not share a land border, has escalated into a diplomatic standoff. Italy's government says it will continue its temporary suspension of Schengen until at least Aug. 15, Politico Europe reported.