Italy threatens to suspend Schengen with Spain over Ceuta migrant crisis, Madrid summons ambassador

The Ceuta surge

On 30 July 2026, the Spanish enclave of Ceuta experienced its largest migrant influx since May 2021. Between 2,000 and 3,000 people, mostly young Moroccans but also families with women and children, entered the city by sea and by land, bypassing the Tarajal breakwater and the border fence. Spanish authorities deployed military units to support the overwhelmed Guardia Civil and reported the recovery of 15 bodies during the day. The government of Pedro Sánchez and Morocco agreed to reinforce coordination to return all irregular entrants "as soon as possible." Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska was scheduled to travel to Ceuta on Friday to manage the crisis on the ground.

Italy proposes Schengen suspension

The events in Ceuta triggered an immediate reaction from Rome. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani posted on X that he favored "closing the Schengen area with Spain," linking the surge to Madrid's plan to regularize the status of over 500,000 irregular immigrants.

The irregular and uncontrolled immigration represents a danger to national security. The images coming from Ceuta show how the decision of the Madrid government to grant Spanish, and therefore European, citizenship to more than 500,000 irregular immigrants is deeply wrong and incentivizes human trafficking.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni later confirmed that Italy was considering "extraordinary measures," including the suspension of the Schengen agreement with Spain. She said she had met with Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and that competent bodies were being convened.

Italy will not stand idly by. We are convening the competent bodies and, after these meetings, we are ready to intervene even with extraordinary measures to defend borders and citizens' security, such as the suspension of the Schengen area with Spain.

Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini also pressed for the suspension, writing that it was "essential to suspend the Schengen Agreement to defend borders and protect Italians."

Madrid summons ambassador

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares responded sharply, summoning Italian ambassador Giuseppe Buccino Grimaldi for Friday, 31 July. Albares called Tajani's remarks "improper for a foreign minister of a partner and friendly country" and accused Rome of "partisan demagoguery."

This message is improper for a foreign minister of a partner and friendly country from which we expect European solidarity and not partisan demagoguery.

Albares insisted that the Ceuta events were linked to a recent Supreme Court ruling that declared so-called hot returns by sea illegal, not to the regularization process. Spanish diplomatic sources added that no person crossing now could benefit from the regularization, which requires proof of residence in Spain before 1 January 2026.

Washington blames Spanish policies

The White House also weighed in. Deputy press secretary Anna Kelly blamed the crisis on Spain's "far-left policies" and said President Donald Trump had long warned Europe about the consequences of mass immigration.

President Trump has long warned Europe about what would happen if it continued to apply far-left globalist policies, including those that facilitate mass immigration. Spain and other countries that have adopted this destructive philosophy should change course immediately or risk their own destruction.

What suspension would mean

The Schengen area comprises 29 European countries that have abolished systematic internal border controls. Italy cannot unilaterally expel Spain from the zone, but it can temporarily reintroduce identity and document checks on travelers arriving from Spain at airports and ports. Such a move would not require visas for Spanish citizens but would mark a significant fracture in EU free movement.

Next steps

The Italian government said it would hold further meetings before deciding on any measures. Spain and Morocco continued to work on returning those who entered irregularly, while Marlaska prepared to assess the situation in Ceuta on Friday. The diplomatic row added a new layer of tension to EU migration politics, with Rome and Madrid openly at odds over both the causes and the response.