Italy urges suspension of Spain from Schengen after thousands entered Ceuta
Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani urged a Schengen suspension for Spain after thousands entered Ceuta and nine migrants died.
Italy's foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, called for Spain to be suspended from the Schengen area after a chaotic mass crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa. Tajani wrote on platform X: "I support closing the Schengen area to Spain," condemning what he described as "irregular and uncontrolled migration."
Authorities said hundreds of migrants entered Ceuta after arriving from the Moroccan side and overwhelming coastal police patrols. The Spanish Civil Guard reported that nine migrants died during the incident, and Spain's armed forces dispatched an additional 60 soldiers to reinforce police units on the ground.
The state broadcaster TVE put the number of people who crossed the border at between two and three thousand, while the news agency EFE reported that hundreds climbed over a protective fence — at a time when that section was reportedly not under police supervision — and entered Ceuta.
Geography and recurring pressure
Ceuta and Melilla are the European Union's only land borders with Africa, and both autonomous cities regularly face waves of migrants attempting to reach Europe. Their geographic position on Morocco's Mediterranean coast makes them focal points for irregular crossings.
The incident has intensified political tensions in the region and prompted calls in some capitals for measures targeting irregular migration flows. Tajani's demand to suspend Spain from Schengen signals a hardline diplomatic reaction to the immediate events in Ceuta.
Photo: press material from the event
