Italy suspends Schengen agreement with Spain over the Ceuta crisis

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced on Friday the suspension of the Schengen Agreement with Spain, describing the measure as “unavoidable.” Tajani wrote on the X platform that “the temporary suspension of the Schengen Agreement with Spain is a necessary decision to protect the security of our citizens and defend Europe’s borders.”

Italy does not share any land borders with Spain, but this move, likely to provoke displeasure in Madrid, will affect air and sea travelers between the two countries, who will now be required to present passports for entry.

In a statement, Italy’s Ministry of the Interior said it had also agreed with Paris to strengthen border controls on the land frontier between France and Italy, in an effort to prevent undocumented migrants from crossing.

Critics of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government argued that the move was merely a symbolic gesture aimed at domestic political consumption, pointing out that there is no evidence that migrants present in Ceuta intend to head to Italy.

The decision to suspend Schengen arrangements came after Spain announced it had successfully contained a wave of crossings into its North African enclave, with most of the more than 50,000 individuals who crossed the border returning voluntarily.