Spain-Italy border spat threatens Umbria's summer tourist flow

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, The Guardian reported on Friday.

The rare spat between the two EU nations escalated after Italy introduced border controls following an influx of about 78,000 migrants from Morocco into the neighbouring Spanish exclave of Ceuta, according to the BBC. Spain had warned Italy it would impose entry checks on visitors unless Rome halts its controls by Sunday, Deutsche Welle reported.

Italy's government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has said it will not take orders from Spain and will continue its temporary suspension of the Schengen free-travel agreement until at least August 15, Politico Europe reported. The suspension, initially imposed for one month, has now become a test of wills between Madrid and Rome.