Italy escalates pressure on Morocco, reigniting Ceuta and migration crisis

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has intensified his criticism of Morocco, reigniting tensions between Rome and Madrid over migration management and Italy's decision to tighten controls on arrivals. This comes in the wake of the crisis involving mass crossings into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta and subsequent Spanish security warnings about potential new waves of migrants.

In an interview with "Corriere della Sera," Tajani defended Italy's actions, denying any "battle" with Spain. He stated that Italian authorities are merely intensifying checks on arrivals, having already denied entry to individuals not meeting the country's requirements. Tajani cited warnings from Spanish intelligence services about potential new migrant arrivals, including terrorism risks, as justification for not downplaying the situation.

Tajani directly addressed Madrid, suggesting that instead of worrying about Italian measures, Spain should "pay attention to Morocco," implying it is the source of migration-related problems. He linked this to the necessity of preventing irregular migrants and potential "terrorists" from reaching Europe.

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pay attention to Morocco

Regarding the suspension of the Schengen agreement, Tajani clarified that the decision does not target Spain. Rome will await further developments before deciding on the continuation or revision of the measure. He stressed that the situation should not escalate into a diplomatic crisis, noting the ongoing suspension of Schengen at the border with Slovenia as an example of Italy and Europe's concerns about potential risks at entry points.

The interview reveals that Tajani's statements about Morocco go beyond defending Rome's border policy, directly targeting Rabat by holding it responsible for migration issues related to Ceuta. This adds a politically charged dimension to his remarks, given the sensitive nature of migration between Morocco and its European partners.

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The problems come from there