Spain threatens ‘proportional measure’ if Italy does not remove border controls

Madrid:The Madrid government has warned Rome that it will adopt “proportional measures” if Italy does not remove border controls for travellers from the Iberian country by Sunday.

Italy suspended the Schengen agreement with Spain – restoring controls for third-country travellers – after the mass entry of migrants into Ceuta last week.

After a video conference meeting chaired by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez with some ministers on the situation in Ceuta, the Madrid government has asked Italy to “rectify” and end the controls on the movement of travellers from Spain, Italian News Agency Adnkronos reported. The Spanish government reiterated that it considers the measure as “unjust, contrary to EU interests and discriminatory for the Spanish population”.

“For this reason, we urge the Italian Government to rectify, to end the controls and to treat Spaniards like the rest of European citizens. If it does not do so before Sunday, August 9, Spain will be obliged to adopt proportional measures to protect the interests and dignity of its citizens,” reads a note cited by Madrid media.

Spanish police announced they had dismantled what they described as one of the largest criminal networks involved in migrant trafficking across the Mediterranean, arresting 78 people and seizing 18 high-speed boats. According to a statement, the network allegedly used the boats to transport synthetic drugs such as ecstasy from Spain to Algeria and, on the return journey, to smuggle migrants to the Spanish Mediterranean coast and the island of Ibiza.

Investigators believe the group is responsible for at least 64 migrant trafficking operations, during which more than 2,000 people were brought to Spain, earning over 24 million Euros.

Police described the sea crossings as “extremely dangerous,” with migrants travelling “crammed, at high speed, in rough seas.” “On some occasions, passengers were even tied up to prevent them from falling into the water during the journey,” the statement read.

The organisation demanded up to 12,000 Euros per person transported, with some operations involving up to 50 migrants per crossing, police specified.

Among those arrested are four alleged leaders of the organisation. Authorities also seized 18 high-speed boats worth over five million Euros. The operation was conducted in collaboration with Europol, the European Union’s police agency, and the police forces of France, Portugal, and Poland.

IANS