Italy suspends Schengen agreement with Spain after 60,000 migrants enter Ceuta

Influx at Ceuta

An estimated 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in recent days, overwhelming local reception centres and prompting Madrid to describe the event as an "attack" on its territorial integrity. Local Spanish authorities declared a humanitarian emergency as centres reached capacity, and the government dispatched additional military and police personnel to the area. The influx quickly strained Spain's migration infrastructure and drew sharp reactions across Europe.

Italy's reaction and electoral backdrop

On 31 July, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that Rome was suspending Schengen open-border rules with Spain for one month starting 1 August.

The temporary suspension of Schengen with Spain is a necessary decision to protect the security of our citizens and defend Europe's borders. It is a measure provided for by the treaties and has become unavoidable today.

The Italian interior ministry clarified that controls would be "targeted" at non-European nationals arriving from Spain via maritime and air routes and would not affect travel by Spanish or other EU citizens. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose Fratelli d'Italia leads a right-wing coalition with Matteo Salvini's League and Tajani's Forza Italia, had called the images from Ceuta "shocking" and insisted on the measure.

To protect national security and prevent possible repercussions for Italy.

The move arrives as Italy enters the pre-campaign season for the 2027 general election. Opinion polls show 73% of Italians favour stricter management of irregular immigration, making the crisis an opportunity for the government to project toughness. Madrid pushed back, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pointing to Frontex data showing 478,600 irregular arrivals in Italy between 2021 and 2026, against 234,760 in Spain.

France reinforces the border

France, in coordination with Italy, announced a sharp reinforcement of its land border with Spain. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the number of police and gendarmes deployed would be multiplied by five by Saturday, reaching 334 personnel. Three border police aircraft would be engaged, and patrols on the Franco-Spanish rail axis would be stepped up. President Emmanuel Macron had earlier ordered the interior minister to send four mobile force units, aircraft and drones if necessary. The French interior ministry said the measures supplement existing border controls.

Returns and Spanish assurances

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares insisted that the integrity of the Schengen area remains intact, noting that the vast majority of migrants who entered Ceuta had already returned to Morocco. By 6 p.m. on 31 July, more than 48,300 returns had been registered.

Almost all those who entered Ceuta have already returned to Morocco. It is not possible to move from Ceuta and Melilla to the peninsula without identifying oneself at a police checkpoint. The integrity of the Schengen area is absolutely guaranteed.

Spain stressed that no free movement exists between the North African enclaves and mainland Europe without police identity checks. The European Union stated it had not observed any migrant flow from Ceuta to the rest of the continent.

Broader tensions with Morocco

The episode revives periodic migration stand-offs between Madrid and Rabat, often linked to underlying diplomatic friction. This latest surge came after Pedro Sánchez visited Algeria, Morocco's rival, on 20 July. Spanish media have also reported deaths among migrants during the crossing, underscoring the peril of the route.