Italy closes air and sea borders, suspends Schengen with Spain over Ceuta migrant crisis

The Italian government on Friday imposed border checks with Spain in response to an influx of tens of thousands of migrants in the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta.  The move will impact flights and maritime transport and temporarily suspends Spain’s Schengen border-free rights, an agreement that allows citizens

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the measure was adopted to safeguard national security and prevent  “possible repercussions on our nations.”

Far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the one-month suspension an “extraordinary measure”.

On Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for Spain to be suspended from the Schengen area, describing the images from Ceuta showing thousands of arriving migrants as "shocking".

Italy ordered the reintroduction of border checks at its ports and airports with Spain on Friday, and France announced it would increase fivefold the officers deployed at its land border from Saturday, after tens of thousands of people entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta irregularly from Morocco.

Spanish police and troops are trying to shore up Ceuta's border to Morocco after Thursday's mass breach. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is also inbound, as Spain's neighbors implement temporary border checks. DW has more.

Italy urged the European Union to consider unprecedented action over the Schengen free-travel area following a large-scale migrant crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, escalating tensions between Rome and Madrid.

Italy said on Friday it ⁠was suspending the EU’s ⁠border-free Schengen arrangements with Spain for one month in ⁠response to a mass influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from neighbouring Morocco. Italy does not share a land border with Spain but the measure – which looks certain to anger Madrid – will ‌

Italy suspends EU Schengen free-travel pact with Spain over Ceuta crisis  Reuters

The temporary suspension of the Schengen agreement was prompted by concerns over the migrant crisis in Ceuta.

Italy suspends Schengen free-travel deal with Spain after 'migrant invasion' in Ceuta  GB News

Italy has issued a statement. 17:14, Fri, Jul 31, 2026 Updated: 17:29, Fri, Jul 31, 2026 Spain Morocco border (Image: Getty)Italy has suspended the Schengen agreement with Spain after 60,000 migrants broke into Spanish territory.The Italian Ministry of the Interior has ordered the closure of the sea and air borders wit

Berlin seizes on Ceuta crisis to extend universal border checks to September  euractiv.com

At least 34 people have died trying to reach Ceuta in north Africa, with many said to have drowned and some killed in a deadly stampede

Italian ambassador summoned over Rome's reaction to arrival of thousands of migrants

France moved to reinforce checks along its border with Spain after a surge of migrant arrivals in Ceuta, fueling fresh political pressure on Europe’s passport-free travel zone.

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has called for Spain to be suspended from the Schengen zone after hundreds of migrants entered its exclave of Ceuta from Morocco.