Italy suspends Schengen agreement with Spain, reinstates border controls

Italy has suspended its adherence to the Schengen agreement with Spain, reinstating border controls at maritime and air entry points. The Italian Ministry of the Interior announced the decision Friday, citing the significant influx of migrants from Morocco into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta.

The measure was decided after a meeting of the Committee for the Analysis of Immigration and Border Security. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi discussed the situation with his French counterpart, Laurent Nuñez, and both agreed on the necessity of strengthening controls on the land border between France and Italy. These actions will be carried out under existing police cooperation agreements between the two nations.

This move comes as thousands of migrants, primarily from Morocco, have crossed into Ceuta. Spanish authorities reported that out of over 50,000 migrants who entered Ceuta in recent days, approximately 37,500 have already returned to Morocco. Earlier reports indicated that around 60,000 individuals had arrived in the 85,000-resident city in an uncontrolled manner.