Italy has temporarily reinstated border controls with Spain, suspending the free movement provisions of the Schengen Agreement between the two countries.
The decision follows the arrival of thousands of migrants in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, on the North African coast, a situation Rome has described as a threat to European security and the integrity of the EU’s external borders.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, alongside Deputy Prime Ministers Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini, announced the measure on Thursday evening, with Italy’s Interior Ministry formally approving it on Friday.
“The temporary suspension of Schengen with Spain is necessary to protect the security of our citizens and Europe’s borders,” Tajani stated.
France has also tightened controls along its land border with Spain, while President Emmanuel Macron has offered support to Spanish authorities in managing the crisis.
The move has triggered strong reactions in Madrid. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez accused Rome of abandoning the principles of European solidarity, stressing that “respecting European treaties is not optional.”
Sánchez also noted that, according to Frontex data, Italy has recorded more irregular migrant arrivals than Spain in recent years.
Meanwhile, several other EU member states—including Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, the Czech Republic, and Sweden—have expressed support for Italy’s position and criticized Spain’s handling of the border situation.
The migrant crisis in Ceuta has reignited political debate across Europe, while Italy’s decision has also been welcomed by several right-wing parties in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
