31/07/2026 18:04 - Internacionales
On July 31, 2026, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced a unilateral suspension of the Schengen Agreement with Spain, effective August 1, 2026, for a period of one month. This drastic measure comes in direct response to a severe migrant crisis in the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta, a small enclave on the northern coast of Africa bordering Morocco.
The Schengen Agreement, signed in 1985 and in effect since 1995, abolished internal border checks among most European countries, allowing passport-free travel. With this suspension, Italy will reinstate controls at its air and sea borders with Spain. However, Italian Interior Minister Antonio Tajani clarified that checks will be random and focused on non-EU citizens, meaning Spanish citizens and most tourists from other Schengen countries will face minimal disruption. The summer tourist flow is not expected to be significantly impacted.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited Ceuta alongside Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, announcing the deployment of the Spanish Army to support the National Police and Civil Guard. The crisis erupted after a Supreme Court ruling banned summary returns at sea, which criminal gangs exploited. In close coordination with Morocco, Spain has managed to return 48,300 migrants voluntarily at a rate of 150 people per minute. By Saturday, August 1, Marlaska will lead a key security meeting in Ceuta to assess the operation’s progress.
The European Commission expressed full support for Spain, confirming that no migrant has crossed from Ceuta into mainland Europe. Despite this, fears of a domino effect emerged: former French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe called for reinforced controls at the French-Spanish border, highlighting the need for a comprehensive reform of EU migration policy. Italy argues its decision is a necessary step to protect its citizens and defend Europe’s external borders, reminding that border management is a shared responsibility of all member states.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
