Italy halts Schengen travel deal with Spain due to migrant surge

Italy has announced that it will suspend the Schengen border-free travel agreement with Spain for one month.

This decision comes after around 60,000 migrants entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco.

As a result, travelers from Spain will need to show a valid passport when arriving in Rome by air or sea. They will not enjoy the usual free travel that the Schengen Agreement allows.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said this step was taken to protect national security and to avoid “possible repercussions on our nations.”

“The measure will be kept in force only for the time necessary,” she wrote on X.

This new rule only impacts non-Spanish and non-EU citizens. Ms Meloni mentioned that there will be “particular attention” to ensure it does not affect summer tourist traffic.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the large number of migrants entered Ceuta after crossing the border from Morocco last night. At least 41 people died during this event.

The report also stated that this situation made other European countries criticize Spain due to worries about a new migration crisis.

Some European leaders asked for Spain to be temporarily removed from the Schengen travel zone.

Ms Meloni led this call, which caused a diplomatic disagreement between Rome and Madrid.

Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, who supports immigration, also had a clash with US President Donald Trump. Trump used this situation to back his tough stance on immigration.

In response to Madrid’s new policy, Mr Sánchez shared data showing that Spain had more irregular entries than Italy from 2021 to 2026.

He stated that “solidarity and empathy are optional, but respect for European treaties and the facts is not.”

“Number of irregular entries between 2021 and 2026 according to Frontex: Via Italy: 478,600, Via the Western Balkans: 340,600, Via Greece: 259,800, Via Spain: 234,760, Via the eastern border: 48,000,” he wrote on X.

“This is not the time to divide,” he added, calling for “building a strong and united EU.”

Meanwhile, France has announced that it will increase checks on its border with Spain.