Spain Warns Italy Over Border Controls After Ceuta Crossings
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Spain has warned Italy that it will take action if Italy does not remove its border controls. This follows a large group of migrants crossing from Morocco into Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa, last week.
The Spanish government says the controls set up by Italy are causing problems. Spain has threatened retaliation, meaning it may respond with similar or opposing measures if Italy does not change its policy.
Italy has rejected this pressure. It said it will not accept ultimatums, which are demands that leave no room for discussion, or impositions, meaning rules forced on it by another country.
The disagreement between the two countries centres on how migration across borders in Europe should be managed, especially after events like the Ceuta crossings.
Ceuta is one of two Spanish cities located on the coast of Morocco. It has seen migrant crossings before, as people attempt to reach European territory from North Africa.
The current dispute shows the wider tension in Europe over how member states should handle migration and whether one country can demand changes to another's border policy.
It remains unclear how the disagreement between Spain and Italy will be resolved, or what specific steps either side might take next.
Vocabulary8 words
- border controls
- rules and checks used to control who enters a country
- retaliation
- an action taken back against someone who has done something to you
- ultimatum
- a final demand that must be accepted with no other choice
- imposition
- something forced on someone else
- migration
- the movement of people from one country to another
- territory
- land or area controlled by a country
- crossing
- the act of moving from one place or country to another
- dispute
- a disagreement between two sides
Quiz
Answer key
1. Migrant crossings into Ceuta 2. Retaliate if Italy keeps its border controls 3. It said it would not accept ultimatums or impositions
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Spain has warned Italy that it will take action if Italy does not remove its _____. This follows a large group of migrants crossing from Morocco into Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa, last week.
The Spanish government says the controls set up by Italy are causing problems. Spain has threatened _____, meaning it may respond with similar or opposing measures if Italy does not change its policy.
Italy has rejected this pressure. It said it will not accept _____, which are demands that leave no room for discussion, or _____, meaning rules forced on it by another country.
The disagreement between the two countries centres on how _____ across borders in Europe should be managed, especially after events like the Ceuta crossings.
Ceuta is one of two Spanish cities located on the coast of Morocco. It has seen migrant _____ before, as people attempt to reach European territory from North Africa.
The current _____ shows the wider tension in Europe over how member states should handle migration and whether one country can demand changes to another's border policy.
Discussion questions
- Why might Spain want Italy to remove its border controls?
- Why do you think Italy refused to accept Spain's demand?
- What problems can migrant crossings cause between neighbouring countries?
- How do you think European countries should work together on migration issues?
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