‘Italy Won’t Stand By’: Meloni Pushes to Suspend Spain From Schengen Amid Ceuta Migrant Crisis

Italy has called for Spain to face unprecedented action within the European Union’s passport-free Schengen Area after a surge of migrants entered.

The Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco, intensifying debate over Europe’s border and migration policies. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday said Rome was prepared to consider “exceptional measures,” including seeking Spain’s suspension from the Schengen system, following the latest influx of migrants into Ceuta.

“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 wrote on X.

Calling the scenes in Ceuta “shocking,” Meloni said many migrants, including children, had risked their lives by swimming to the Spanish territory. According to Spanish authorities in Ceuta, at least 34 people died during the dangerous crossing.

“Italy will not stand idly by,” she added.

Italy Toughens Its Position

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani backed Meloni’s stance, arguing that Spain should face consequences if it fails to safeguard the EU’s external borders.

“I am in favour of closing the Schengen area with Spain,” Tajani wrote on X, saying “irregular and uncontrolled immigration poses a danger to national security.”

He also criticised Spain’s immigration policies, alleging that granting citizenship to more than 500,000 undocumented migrants had sent the wrong signal and could encourage human trafficking networks.

Finland Backs Italy

Finland also voiced support for Italy’s position. Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said Spain had failed to adequately protect the Schengen Area’s external frontier and warned that the bloc could not function if member states did not fulfil their border responsibilities.

“Spain has completely failed to protect the Schengen Area’s external border from infiltration. This cannot continue,” Rantanen wrote on X. “Countries that do not fulfil their obligation to protect the external border cannot be members of Schengen.”

The developments have intensified pressure on the European Union to reassess its migration strategy, with the latest crisis in Ceuta exposing deep divisions among member states over border security and responsibility-sharing.