A diplomatic clash has erupted between Italy and Spain following the latest migrant crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, located in North Africa.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has warned that Rome is prepared to seek the reinstatement of border controls with Spain if the situation involving irregular migration is not addressed.
According to the Italian government, the growing number of migrants entering Ceuta from Morocco represents a threat to European security and to the control of the European Union’s external borders.
“We are ready to take extraordinary measures, including the suspension of Schengen arrangements with Spain, if the situation is not resolved,” Italian authorities stated.
However, European Union rules do not allow one member state to remove another country from the Schengen Area. What can be implemented is the temporary reintroduction of border checks in cases where a serious threat to security or public order is identified.
The statements from Rome have triggered a strong reaction in Madrid. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares criticized Italy’s position and summoned the Italian ambassador for consultations.
The Spanish government rejected claims that its migration policies are responsible for the crisis, while tensions between the two countries continue to escalate.
The crisis began after a major wave of migrant arrivals from Morocco into Ceuta, a Spanish territory on the northern coast of Africa, reigniting a wider European debate over border controls and migration policies.
