In a significant escalation of the ongoing European Union migration dispute, Spain has implemented border control measures on all air and sea travel from Italy. The move follows Italy's imposition of similar restrictions last week after an influx of approximately 78,000 migrants from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta. These controls, effective for a month, come into force at midnight (GMT), with Spanish officials checking documents of up to 10% of passengers before they disembark planes. Italy, too, has implemented random border checks in response to the crisis that has pitted Spain's socialist leader Pedro Sanchez against Italy's conservative leader Giorgia Meloni. While Italy does not share a land border with Spain, it has temporarily suspended the Schengen agreement's border-free travel to prevent migrants who entered Ceuta from traveling onward to Italy. Madrid contests this move, arguing that the migrants have no way of entering the Schengen area. Rome expects these checks to remain until 15th August, when Spain anticipates a new wave of migration into Ceuta. The Italian government has clarified that Spanish and EU citizens are exempt from additional checks, with the extra steps only for non-EU residents. However, border officials' distinction between EU and non-EU travelers has reportedly led to long queues and delays at several Italian airport terminals. Spain maintains its controls until 7th September, subject to change based on circumstances. This is not the first instance of a temporary Schengen agreement suspension; Italy also controls its border with Slovenia. The decision to suspend Schengen for a month has been backed by Finland and Denmark, while the Czech Republic calls for Spain's membership to be temporarily suspended. Most migrants who arrived in Ceuta last week have since been returned, but nearly 1,400 minors still remain there. Social media posts suggest plans for a second migration wave in mid-August, raising concerns about the root causes of the crisis. The EU's Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner suspects criminal networks spreading disinformation as the cause, an assertion supported by the Spanish government. The crossings followed Spain's Supreme Court ruling that migrants attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla cannot be summarily returned to Morocco. Morocco has attributed the crisis to the court's decision, with diplomatic tensions persisting over the status of the two exclaves, which Morocco does not recognize as Spanish territory. Travelers between Spain and Italy may experience disruptions due to these border controls; affected parties are encouraged to share their experiences here.