Following Italy's rejection of its ultimatum to lift the border checks imposed in response to the Ceuta migration crisis, Spain has in turn announced that it will carry out checks on travellers from Italy.
From midnight on Saturday, travellers from Italy would initially be subject to random checks at ports and airports until September 7, Spanish state broadcaster RTVE reported, citing a decree issued by the Madrid government.
The checks are intended to verify the identity and nationality of travellers and, in the case of third-country nationals, their visa or residence permit. The reason given was the "persistent pressure of irregular migration" to which Italy is exposed.
The Spanish government had threatened Italy with countermeasures if it did not lift its own border checks, ordered last Saturday in response to the mass influx of migrants into Spain's North African exclave of Ceuta.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made it clear that she would not bow to any ultimatum. "Italy does not accept ultimatums or dictates from abroad regarding national security and border checks," according to a declaration from her office which has been seen by dpa.
Italy would maintain its checks at least until August 15 and, in any case, until "security and terrorism risks to Italy have been completely ruled out."
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares described Italy's actions as "a torpedo fired at the hull of European unity."
Italy suspended the Schengen Agreement on the free movement of people within the EU in relation to Spain last Saturday, in light of the migration crisis in Ceuta. Around 72,000 people had temporarily reached Ceuta from Morocco.
Meloni had described the move as an "exceptional measure" taken "to ensure national security and prevent any potential repercussions for our country".
Italy does not share a land border with Spain. The measure announced by Meloni affects sea and air travel. Travellers who are not EU citizens, in particular, are to be screened.