Italy suspends Schengen agreement with Spain

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced on Friday that Italy has suspended the Schengen Agreement with Spain following the influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in northern Morocco.

In a post on X, Tajani said: "The temporary suspension of the Schengen Agreement with Spain is a necessary decision to protect the security of our citizens and defend Europe's borders."

Italy's Interior Ministry said that the country has closed its sea and air entry points to Spain.

However, it clarified that the measure will not affect travel by Spanish or other European Union citizens to Italy.

A ministry spokesperson said that, following discussions with France, the two countries will strengthen border controls along their land frontiers.

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

Tajani said on Friday that the temporary suspension of the Schengen Agreement, the open travel area where travelers are generally not subject to border checks, "is provided for under the treaties and has today become unavoidable."

He described the migration crisis in Ceuta as a "shared responsibility" within the European Union, calling on EU member states to "work together to prevent the uncontrolled flow of migrants into European Union territory."

The Interior Ministry said any checks at air and sea borders with Spain would be "targeted," applying only to non-EU nationals arriving from Spain.

The ministry added that the measure will remain in effect for one month starting Saturday.

La sospensione temporanea di #Schengen con la Spagna è una scelta necessaria per tutelare la sicurezza dei nostri cittadini e difendere le frontiere europee. Una misura prevista dai trattati e resa oggi ineludibile. La crisi dei migranti a #Ceuta ci ricorda che la gestione dei…

— Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) July 31, 2026