Italy Suspends Schengen Deal With Spain Over Ceuta Migrants
Italy has temporarily suspended its Schengen travel deal with Spain. The move follows mass migrant crossings into Ceuta.
Ceuta is a Spanish enclave in North Africa. About 60,000 migrants entered Ceuta from nearby Morocco.
This happened over just a few days. At least 67 people died trying to make the crossing.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the scenes in Ceuta shocking. Almost all the migrants had left Ceuta by Saturday.
Spain now plans to build a barrier along the sea border. The barrier will stretch 500 meters.
It aims to stop future crossings. Most European Union countries asked for emergency talks.
They sent an open letter to the bloc's interior ministers. But the European Union response has been divided.
Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Sweden reportedly back Italy's position. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez rejected Italy's move.
He said respect for European treaties and facts is not optional. He pointed to data showing Italy had more illegal entries than Spain between 2021 and 2026.
Spain's Foreign Ministry blames the crisis on a court ruling instead. The ruling involved migrants who entered by swimming.
The ministry says criminal groups exploited how the ruling was interpreted. Spain's Foreign Minister Albares summoned Italy's ambassador over the dispute.
Key Terms 4
- Schengen European agreement letting people travel freely between member countries without border checks.
- Ceuta A Spanish territory located on the coast of North Africa.
- Frontex The European Union's border and coast guard agency.
- European Union A group of 27 European countries with shared laws and policies.