Italy suspends Schengen agreement with Spain
Italy has suspended its Schengen arrangement with Spain after thousands of migrants crossed illegally from Morocco into the Spanish North African city of Ceuta.
RastinewsItaly has announced the suspension of its Schengen agreement with Spain after thousands of migrants crossed illegally from Morocco into Ceuta, Spain's territory on the North African coast. Italy's Interior Ministry has ordered the closure of sea and air borders with Spain.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had said she was considering suspending the Schengen rules on open borders with Spain. In a post on X, Meloni called the images coming out of Ceuta "striking" and said, "Uncontrolled illegal migration poses a concrete threat to the security of Europe's borders."
Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also said he backed closing the Schengen Area to Spain. Tajani said "irregular and uncontrolled migration" posed a threat to national security, adding: "The images from Ceuta show what a grave mistake the government in Madrid made in granting Spanish — and by extension European — citizenship to more than 500,000 irregular migrants, and how it encourages people smuggling."
Finland's Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said her country supported Italy's call to close the Schengen Area to Spain.
Rantanen argued Spain had "completely failed" to protect the Schengen border against illegal crossings. "This cannot go on," she said. "Every country in Europe should support (Italian Prime Minister Giorgia) Meloni's proposal. Countries that fail to fulfill their obligation to protect the external border cannot remain Schengen members."
Source: Oksijen