Italy Suspends Schengen Agreement with Spain Amid Migrant Crisis
The Italian government has officially announced the suspension of the Schengen Agreement with Spain due to an unprecedented migration wave into Ceuta. Approximately 49,000 migrants entered the Spanish enclave within 24 hours.
In light of the migrant crisis, the Italian government officially announced on Friday the suspension of the Schengen Agreement with Spain. Parallel to this, the Spanish Interior Ministry stated that about 48,300 migrants have already returned to Morocco. This accounts for the vast majority of the more than 50,000 people who crossed into Ceuta in recent days. According to Spanish authorities, many returned voluntarily after finding no food or lodging.
The scale of this migration wave is significantly larger than initial estimates. The Spanish Interior Ministry reports that approximately 49,000 migrants entered the North African enclave within 24 hours by land and sea. This figure represents more than half of Ceuta's population and is an unprecedented event, far exceeding previous migration crises in the city.
Thousands climbed the border fence or swam around the breakwaters at Tarajal beach. Among those entering were Moroccan citizens and migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, including families and children.
According to the AP, at least 18 people died during the crossing attempts due to drowning or crushes near the border. Many migrants, including unaccompanied minors, were left without shelter and spent the night on city streets and in parks.
Ceuta's president, Juan Jesus Vivas, declared the situation a "humanitarian and social emergency," warning that local authorities cannot manage the crisis alone. Madrid rejected calls for a national state of emergency, arguing that the situation does not meet the legal criteria for such a declaration.
In response, the Spanish government mobilized the army to reinforce the Civil Guard and police. Ground forces were deployed along the border, alongside increased maritime and aerial patrols. Morocco has also reinforced security forces on its side of the fence.
The cause of this mass movement remains unclear. Some link it to a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that complicates the immediate deportation of migrants, which smuggling networks may have exploited. Others point to high youth unemployment in Morocco and Spain's plans to regularize the status of existing migrants.
The crisis has quickly spread to the European stage. France announced increased security and checks on its border with Spain, fearing that migrants would move north. Meanwhile, Madrid expressed outrage at Italy's stance, with Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares labeling the comments "inappropriate" and accusing the Italian government of political demagoguery.
The European Commission has offered Spain operational and financial assistance, including the reinforcement of the Frontex border agency. EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, emphasized that protecting Europe's external borders is a shared responsibility.
