Italian officials have called for Spain's suspension from the Schengen zone after thousands of migrants entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and senior ministers have called for Spain to be removed from Europe’s Schengen free-travel zone following reports of thousands of migrants entering the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The incident, which occurred on July 30, 2026, has prompted Italy to threaten "extraordinary measures" to secure its own borders. The diplomatic dispute has escalated into a public confrontation between the two nations, with Spain summoning the Italian ambassador to express formal displeasure.

Italian Calls for Schengen Suspension

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani have all publicly advocated for the suspension of the Schengen agreement or the exclusion of Spain from the zone. Meloni described the images from Ceuta as "shocking" and a threat to European border security. Italy has previously utilized provisions within the Schengen treaty to temporarily reintroduce border checks, such as those implemented on the Slovenian border to address concerns regarding smuggling and terrorism.

Diplomatic Tensions Between Rome and Madrid

The conflict intensified when Foreign Minister Tajani criticized Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s migration policy, which includes plans to legalize hundreds of thousands of unauthorized migrants. Tajani labeled the policy "profoundly wrong" and claimed it incentivized human trafficking. In response, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares summoned the Italian ambassador, publicly rebuking Tajani’s comments on social media as "partisan demagoguery" and "unbecoming" of a partner country.

European Commission and EPP Response

Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s Party, urged the immediate enforcement of the Migration Pact and return regulations in light of the Ceuta crisis. Meanwhile, European Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner stated that the Commission is supporting Spain’s border protection efforts. A Commission spokesperson emphasized that Morocco remains a "key and trusted partner" and noted that the EU is working to strengthen its strategic partnership with the country to manage migration flows and anti-smuggling operations.