Italija prekida schengenski režim s Španjolskom zbog priliva migranata u Ceutu

Italy has suspended the Schengen border regime with Spain following a large influx of migrants into the Ceuta enclave, according to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The move comes after approximately 60,000 migrants illegally entered Ceuta, a Spanish territory in northern Africa, over the past day. According to the latest figures, more than 48,000 have been returned to Morocco, while 57 have died during their attempts to cross the border by land and sea. The Italian interior ministry announced today that it has also reached an agreement with France to strengthen control along the Franco-Italian border. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that security measures have been intensified on the border between France and Spain following the mass arrival of migrants from Morocco. This follows reports that many of the migrants had attempted to reach Italy via Spain, prompting concerns over potential threats to national security. Italy initially proposed a temporary suspension of Spain’s membership in the Schengen area on Thursday, which was supported by representatives from several other EU member states. However, EU member states cannot formally exclude another country from the Schengen zone. Instead, they can impose additional checks at the border under certain conditions outlined in the Schengen acquis, such as “serious threat to internal security or public order,” including terrorism, organized crime, or exceptional health-related circumstances. Ceuta, located just south of Gibraltar, has become a focal point for migration flows into Europe. In recent days, thousands of migrants have crossed into the region, often using informal routes through the Moroccan border. Many of these individuals sought to travel further west toward Spain, with some intending to continue onward to France or Italy. The situation has led to heightened tensions between European countries and Morocco, with accusations that the latter is facilitating illegal crossings. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited Ceuta today, describing the sudden surge of migrants as an attack on Spanish territory. He accused criminal networks engaged in human trafficking of orchestrating the influx. Sánchez emphasized the need for unity within the EU, stating that “now is the time to continue building a strong and united EU.” On social media, he shared statistics detailing the number of irregular arrivals across Europe, underscoring the scale of the challenge facing the bloc. Critics of the far-right government led by Meloni argue that the decision to suspend the Schengen regime with Spain is symbolic rather than practical. They point out that there is no evidence that the migrants in Ceuta intended to enter Italy. Some analysts suggest the move is aimed at consolidating support among Italy’s domestic political base, particularly ahead of upcoming elections. Meanwhile, the Italian government maintains that the action is necessary to protect national security and manage the growing pressure from migration flows. As the situation continues to evolve, officials from both Italy and Spain are expected to engage in further discussions regarding border controls and cooperation mechanisms. The European Commission will likely monitor the developments closely, assessing whether the measures taken align with broader EU policies on immigration and security. For now, the focus remains on managing the immediate crisis in Ceuta and ensuring that the flow of migrants does not escalate into a larger regional conflict.