Italy considers suspending Schengen with Spain over migrant crisis in Ceuta

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has proposed suspending the Schengen agreement, which allows for free movement of people across European borders, in response to the mass arrival of Moroccan migrants swimming to the Spanish coast of Ceuta. In a single week, nearly 2,000 migrants reached Ceuta, an enclave with approximately 83,000 inhabitants, prompting the Spanish government to declare a "humanitarian and social emergency."

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The images that arrive from Ceuta are impressive and demonstrate, once again, that clandestine immigration out of control represents a concrete threat to the security of European borders.

Meloni described the images from Ceuta as "impressive" and stated that "clandestine immigration out of control represents a concrete threat to the security of European borders." She announced a meeting with the Interior Minister, Matteo Piantedosi, and declared Italy's readiness to intervene with "extraordinary instruments" to defend its borders and citizens' security, including the suspension of Schengen with Spain.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani echoed Meloni's sentiments, expressing support for closing the Schengen space with Spain and criticizing the Spanish government's decision to grant citizenship to over 500,000 irregular immigrants. Tajani argued that this policy "incentivizes human trafficking" and poses a danger to national security, emphasizing that Italy will not back down on its stance against clandestine immigration, focusing on border defense, arresting traffickers, and ensuring effective repatriations.

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I am in favor of closing the Schengen space with Spain and I have full confidence in the action of Minister Piantedosi. Irregular and uncontrolled immigration represents a danger to national security.

The Schengen Area is a zone within Europe that has abolished internal border controls, allowing passport-free travel between member states. The recent influx of migrants into Ceuta has intensified the debate on migration policies within the European Union, with Italy taking a firm stance on border control and national security.

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On clandestine immigration, we will not back down one millimeter: defending borders, stopping human traffickers, and ensuring effective repatriations will continue to be the line of this government.