ROME, Italy — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday called for the suspension of Spain from the Schengen Area after thousands of migrants entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco, prompting concerns within Italy over irregular migration and border security.
Meloni said Italy was preparing to convene the relevant government bodies and could consider “exceptional measures,” including suspending the Schengen agreement with Spain.
“We are in the process of bringing together the competent bodies and, once these meetings are over, we are ready to act, including through exceptional measures… such as suspending the Schengen agreement with Spain,” Meloni said in a post on X.
She described images from Ceuta as “shocking,” noting that many of the migrants, including children, swam to reach the Spanish territory.
The Spanish government’s delegation in Ceuta told AFP that at least nine people died while attempting to reach the enclave.
“Italy will not stand idly by,” Meloni said.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also called for stronger measures against Spain earlier Thursday.
“I am in favor of closing the Schengen area with Spain,” Tajani said in a post on X, arguing that irregular and uncontrolled migration poses a national security risk.
Tajani also criticized Spain’s decision to grant Spanish citizenship to more than 500,000 irregular migrants, claiming the policy could encourage human trafficking.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Luis Albares rejected Tajani’s comments and accused him of using migration as a political issue.
Albares described the remarks as inappropriate from a “partner and friendly country” and said Spain expected European solidarity rather than partisan political attacks.
The Schengen Area comprises 29 European countries that have removed controls at their shared borders, allowing people to travel between participating countries without routine internal border checks.
Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has separately called for the suspension of the entire Schengen Area.