MADRID, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Spain will extend temporary border checks on travellers arriving from Italy by air or sea for another 15 days, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported on Monday, citing the country's Interior Ministry.

The tit-for-tat measure followed a decision by the government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to extend its own checks on travellers arriving from Spain for the same period.

Italy initially reintroduced checks at its air and sea borders with Spain on Aug. 1 following a mass influx of migrants into Ceuta, Spain's North African enclave, from neighbouring Morocco on July 30. Both Italy and Spain are members of Europe's passport-free Schengen area.

Spain responded on Aug. 8 by introducing checks on arrivals from Italy for one month.

The latest extension means Spain's border checks with Italy will remain in place until Sept. 21.