Italy Introduces Border Controls with Spain Due to Ceuta Crisis
RSI
Italy introduced border controls with Spain following the arrival of more than 60,000 migrants in Ceuta. Rome’s decision triggered a diplomatic dispute with Madrid and prompted scrutiny from the European Union, Rai News reports.
National Security Threat
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the temporary suspension of the Schengen rules was necessary to protect national security. The measure will remain in effect “only for as long as necessary” and is aimed at preventing possible consequences of the migration crisis for Italy.
Meloni stressed that the authorities intend to minimize the impact of the decision on summer tourism flows. In practice, the controls are expected to apply mainly to citizens of non-EU countries entering Italy through Spain.
Later, the Italian prime minister said the events in Ceuta had once again demonstrated the need for a coordinated European response to illegal migration. Italy and Denmark initiated a letter signed by 22 EU member states. The document calls for stronger protection of the Union’s external borders, more active measures against illegal migration and human trafficking networks, more effective return procedures for people without the right to stay, and the removal of factors encouraging further illegal arrivals.
Meloni emphasized that protecting the EU’s external borders “is not the interest of a single country” but a shared responsibility of all member states.
What Happened in Ceuta
On July 30, 2026, more than 60,000 migrants arrived in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, crossing the land border and swimming along the coast. By July 31, around 25,000 people had voluntarily returned to Morocco. Police reported finding 43 bodies, most of them believed to have drowned. Spain deployed military units to support police operations in the region. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said procedures for returning migrants who had no right to remain in the country would be accelerated.
Authorities cited the spread of false information about a ruling by Spain’s Supreme Court as one of the factors behind the crisis. The ruling was allegedly misinterpreted as banning the return of migrants to Morocco. However, the court did not cancel the return procedure; it only stated that legal requirements must be followed when people are intercepted at sea.
According to Reuters, the situation had stabilized by August 3. Spanish authorities reported that around 69,500 people had returned to Morocco. Ceuta’s leader Juan Jesús Vivas said that up to 5,000 migrants remained in the enclave, while two reception centers — for adults and minors — were overcrowded. The cases of 862 minors are being handled separately, as they have special legal protection and cannot be automatically deported.
Official figures indicate that the death toll from the attempted mass crossing reached 83. Many of those who returned to Morocco said they made that decision because of food shortages after shops closed, hostility from some local residents, and the inability to continue their journey to mainland Spain.
Madrid and Rabat Dispute the Causes of the Crisis
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said that Morocco had assisted in the return of migrants and had not imposed any conditions on its cooperation. According to him, this cooperation made it possible to resolve the situation quickly.
However, Ceuta’s leader Juan Jesús Vivas criticized Rabat’s actions, saying that Moroccan authorities had at least allowed the crisis to develop by failing to maintain effective border control.
Morocco’s Interior Ministry attributed the mass crossing to the spread of misinformation on social media, the activities of human trafficking networks, and the misinterpretation of a Spanish court ruling regarding the return of migrants intercepted at sea.
Meanwhile, Spanish intelligence services began investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. According to Spanish media outlets El País and Cadena SER, intelligence officials believe that Morocco did not organize the mass crossing but may have allowed border controls to weaken during the country’s national holiday — Throne Day.
Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles declined to comment on whether intelligence services had prior information about the possible escalation, saying that their work was classified. She praised the professionalism of Spanish security forces involved in stabilizing the situation.
Conflict Between Italy and Spain
Rome’s decision triggered a sharp reaction from Madrid. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that responsibility for the migration crisis lies primarily with criminal groups and human traffickers. He criticized Italy’s position, arguing that solidarity and empathy are matters of choice, while compliance with European agreements and respect for statistics are mandatory.
Sánchez cited figures on the number of irregular migrants registered in the two countries between 2021 and 2026. According to him, Italy recorded 478,600 people, while Spain registered 230,476.
The Spanish prime minister sent a letter to European institutions expressing “serious concern” over the reaction of some EU governments to the Ceuta crisis. He called for an urgent meeting of EU interior ministers to develop a common response and reaffirm that the security of external borders is the shared responsibility of all member states, not only countries facing the greatest migration pressure.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska called Italy’s decision to suspend Schengen rules an “unforgivable action.” He said that most EU countries had supported Spain during the difficult situation, while some states had demonstrated an “egoistic, non-solidary and irresponsible approach.”
Positions of Other European Countries
The European Union stated that Italy has the right to temporarily reintroduce border controls, but such measures are only permitted in the event of a serious threat. European sources said that Rome had not yet officially notified the European Commission about the restrictions. Italy will have to explain how the situation in Ceuta poses a threat to the country and why it requires the use of emergency procedures.
A representative of Ireland, which currently holds the presidency of the Council of the EU, said that the Ceuta crisis had not resulted in further migrant movements toward continental European countries. In response to the situation, a meeting of the Integrated Political Crisis Response mechanism (IPCR) was convened.
Around 20 European leaders supported proposals to tighten migration rules, including representatives from Denmark, Finland and Sweden. Some politicians, including Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, even suggested considering the suspension of Spain’s participation in the Schengen Area.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Spain should follow Warsaw’s example and strengthen border protection, otherwise the Schengen system would be at risk.
French President Emmanuel Macron ordered expanded checks at the border with Spain. Austria and Portugal also announced possible tighter controls: Lisbon plans to strengthen measures at land and sea borders, particularly in the south of the country. Former US President Donald Trump also commented on the situation, saying that Spain was experiencing a “terrible crisis” and that similar problems could emerge in other countries.
Conclusion
The Ceuta crisis has already become one of the key political issues in Europe. Right-wing forces in Spain and Italy are using the situation to criticize their governments’ migration policies, while left-wing parties support Sánchez’s position.
The practical consequences of Italy’s decision are currently limited to selective border checks, including at airports for passengers arriving from Spain. The Silp police union warned of possible delays during the busy summer travel season, while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that the checks would be simple and quick.
Analysts at International Investment note that in recent years the EU has been moving toward stricter rules for foreign nationals, particularly refugees and irregular migrants. The bloc is considering the creation of special migrant centers outside EU territory, while in some cases deportation directly at the border may be permitted. Return procedures have also been accelerated.
The growing number of crimes and incidents such as the one in Ceuta are influencing decisions made by European governments. As a result, the EU may continue expanding controls at its external borders and tightening entry rules.