Migration Crisis Deepens Divisions in EU, Italy Suspends Schengen with Spain

About 60,000 migrants from Morocco crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta within 24 hours, plunging Spain into its worst migration crisis in recent years. Faced with this situation, Italy decided to suspend the Schengen agreement with Madrid.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blamed the Spanish government for the developments and backed the suspension. Rome’s position has also gained support from several other European Union member states, which are calling for the same measure to be imposed on Spain.

Poland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, the Czech Republic and other countries have urged the European Union to consider every possible option for addressing the migration crisis in Spain, including the suspension of Schengen. These countries have blamed Pedro Sanchez’s government for the situation.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen responded to the developments, saying the scenes from Ceuta were unacceptable.

She stressed that no one can enter the European Union without respecting its rules. According to von der Leyen, the dangerous crossings must be stopped immediately, migrants returned as quickly as possible and smuggling networks dismantled. She also announced that she had tasked two commissioners with helping to bring the situation in Spain under control.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with Madrid while also emphasizing the need to restore border control.

As European Union countries remain divided into two camps over the Spanish crisis, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez responded to criticism from those who called for Spain’s suspension from the Schengen agreement.

“Solidarity and empathy are optional; respect for European Union treaties is not,” Sanchez said.