The government of Italy on Friday imposed stringent border checks, suspending Schengen with Spain, in response to an influx of tens of thousands of migrants in the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta. The move is expected to impact flights and maritime transport.<\/p>\n
It suspends Spain\u2019s Schengen border-free rights, an agreement that allows citizens of European member states to move freely among 29 countries. The move came a day after Italian Prime Minister STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n Meloni, who had promised to cut down illegal immigration, released a separate statement, lauding the move. She called the decision an \u201cextraordinary measure\u201d that was taken to safeguard the country\u2019s national security. \u201cThe measure will be kept in force only for the time necessary, with particular attention to limiting any impact on summer tourist flows,\u201d the Italian premier wrote in a post on X.<\/p>\n Il Governo ha deciso di sospendere temporaneamente il regime di libera circolazione previsto da Schengen nei collegamenti marittimi e aerei con la Spagna, reintroducendo i controlli di frontiera.<\/p>\n Si tratta di una misura straordinaria, adottata per tutelare la sicurezza nazionale\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/bpszoG8soX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) July 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIn parallel, Italy is ready to support every European initiative to assist Spanish institutions as needed to restore full control of the Union\u2019s external borders and to address the ongoing situation with determination,\u201d the prime minister continued. \u201cDefending borders means defending the safety of citizens, combating irregular immigration, and striking at the criminal networks that traffic human beings.\u201d<\/p>\n STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADSpain sees influx of illegal immigrants<\/p>\n Tens of On Friday, the Spanish officials said that more than 48,000 people had voluntarily returned to Morocco since then. Amid the chaos, European Commission President The images coming from Ceuta are unacceptable.<\/p>\n We cannot allow anyone to come to our Union without abiding by our rules.<\/p>\n Dangerous crossings must stop immediately. Smuggling networks must be dismantled. And returns must be swift, as our rules allow.<\/p>\n I tasked two Commissioners\u2026<\/p>\n
\nGiorgia Meloni warned<\/a> that it would do the same. In a statement on Friday, the Italian Interior Minister, Matteo Piantedosi, said that air and sea border controls will remain in place for August.<\/p>\n
\nthousands of migrants<\/a> crossed into the North African peninsula this week from Morocco. This happened after the Spanish Supreme Court ruled that migrants stopped at sea during their attempt to reach Ceuta or another Spanish enclave, Melilla, cannot be returned to Morocco.<\/p>\n
\nUrsula von der Leyen<\/a> called the situation in Ceuta \u201cunacceptable\u201d on Friday and said she appointed two commissioners to oversee the response to the crisis.<\/p>\n