Italy suspends Schengen agreement with Spain over migrant crisis in Ceuta

Italy announced on Friday the temporary suspension of the Schengen Agreement’s provisions on freedom of movement with Spain, in response to the large influx of migrants into the Spanish-administered city of Ceuta.

Although the two countries share no land border, the decision will apply to air and sea travelers, who will be required to present their passports to be allowed entry.

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

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

The decision came after Spain announced it had successfully contained the wave of crossings into the city, with the majority of the more than 50,000 migrants returning voluntarily.

The Schengen Area allows passport-free travel among 29 European countries, with the possibility of temporarily reintroducing border controls for security or public order reasons.

On Thursday, Meloni had called for Spain’s suspension from the Schengen Area, following the entry of thousands of irregular migrants into the enclave of Ceuta from Morocco.