Italy suspends Schengen with Spain over Ceuta migrant surge, France tightens border checks

The trigger in Ceuta

Between Thursday and Friday, an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta, the highest number since 2021. Ceuta's president Juan Jesús Vivas described the situation as "a total humanitarian and social emergency" on Thursday. By Friday evening Spain's interior ministry said about 40,000 had already returned to Morocco, while the Focus report noted that 37,500 had left the small territory. The death toll rose to 57, most of whom drowned while trying to swim from Morocco, state broadcaster RTVE reported citing a ministry spokesperson.

We are in a situation of total humanitarian and social emergency.

Italy's response

Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani confirmed the suspension of the Schengen agreement with Spain on Friday, calling it a necessary decision "to ensure the security of our citizens and protect European borders." Italy's interior ministry ordered the closure of sea and air borders to Spain, effective Saturday for one month. Since the two countries share no land border, the move affects travellers arriving by plane or ship, who will now face passport checks. Prime minister Giorgia Meloni had threatened the step on Thursday evening, writing on X that "Italy will not stand idly by" and that the images from Ceuta showed "uncontrolled illegal immigration is a concrete threat to the security of European borders."

Italy will not stand idly by. We are ready to act, including through extraordinary measures, such as suspending the Schengen agreement with Spain.

Reactions from Paris, Helsinki and Copenhagen

France announced an immediate strengthening of controls on its border with Spain. Interior minister Laurent Nuñez said he had instructed "controls at the Spanish border to be reinforced immediately" and told RTL he would speak again with his Spanish counterpart that day. Finland's interior minister Mari Rantanen stated that Spain had "completely failed to protect the Schengen area's external border from intrusion" and argued that countries unable to meet their obligations "cannot be part of Schengen." Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen urged the EU to consider suspending Schengen cooperation with Spain, telling AFP that "uncontrolled immigration represents a threat to Europe and to Denmark."

Countries that do not fulfil their obligations to protect the external borders cannot be part of Schengen.

The legal and symbolic dimension

Critics described Italy's move as domestically motivated symbolic politics. The migrants in Ceuta are not on EU soil nor inside the Schengen zone, and there is no evidence they intend to travel to Italy; any Mediterranean crossing would first bring them to an EU external border. The RP Online article noted the Meloni government faces pressure from the newly founded right-wing party "Futuro Nazionale" led by former army general Roberto Vannacci, whose anti-migration rhetoric resonates with a substantial share of the ruling coalition's voters. Former EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell wrote on X that "under EU law, no member state may unilaterally suspend another member state's participation in the Schengen area."

EU and international reaction

EU migration commissioner Magnus Brunner expressed the EU's readiness to support Spain, including through Frontex. Commission president Ursula von der Leyen called the images from Ceuta "unacceptable" and demanded an end to dangerous crossings and the dismantling of smuggling networks. Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez described the situation as an "attack" and "violation of Spain's territorial integrity," promising physical barriers and immediate returns. German chancellor Friedrich Merz called on Madrid to regain control quickly and said he expected Morocco to take back illegal migrants without delay. French president Emmanuel Macron offered Spain any required assistance via Frontex. US president Donald Trump, interviewed by Fox News, called the scenes "terrible" and warned a similar scenario could unfold in the United States.