Italy conditions the reopening of Schengen on the evolution of the migration crisis in Ceuta: "It remains very worrying"

The Italian Government is currently maintaining border controls on travelers from Spain and does not plan to immediately lift the restrictions reintroduced after the migratory crisis in Ceuta. The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, assured this Monday that Rome is studying "with great attention" when to normally reapply the Schengen area with Spain, although he has made any decision conditional on the evolution of the situation in the autonomous city, which he considers "remains very worrying."

"Border security and terrorism prevention are two government priorities. That is why we are carefully evaluating when to reopen the Schengen area. Everything depends on how the situation in Ceuta evolves, which, however, remains very worrying," Tajani told local media. His statements indicate that Giorgia Meloni's Executive maintains the controls established on July 31 in ports and airports for passengers from Spain, after the massive irregular entry recorded in Ceuta.

Rome's position had already been set last week. The Italian Minister of Interior, Matteo Piantedosi, warned on Thursday that the measure would not be reviewed before August 15 and that controls would only be withdrawn when possible risks to Italian security were completely ruled out. Now, Tajani's new statements prolong the uncertainty about when free movement between both countries will be fully restored.

The Italian decision provoked a response from the Government of Pedro Sánchez, which demanded that Rome end restrictions that, according to the Spanish Executive, were adopted unilaterally and have affected "the mobility of thousands of passengers and generated legal uncertainty." Spain demanded that "controls be ended and Spaniards be treated like the rest of European citizens" and described the Italian action as "unjust, contrary to the interests of the EU and discriminatory."

Given Italy's refusal to withdraw the measures, Spain responded by suspending the application of the Schengen agreement with Italy until September 7 and reinstating controls for travelers from that country. The Spanish Executive also reminded Rome that practically all people who irregularly entered Spanish territory during the crisis "have already returned to Morocco."

Tension has remained high in recent days due to messages spread on social media encouraging a new massive entry into Ceuta around August 15. Spanish and Moroccan authorities then reinforced surveillance devices at the border, although finally no new entry into Spanish territory occurred. 

In this context, Meloni has defended the measures adopted by her Government and has insisted on the need to maintain "extreme" vigilance against the possibility of new entry attempts. The Italian Prime Minister has also maintained that "the vast majority" of European countries share Italy's position and has again linked migratory pressure with security risks and terrorism prevention.

The controversy arises despite the fact that Schengen area regulations do not contemplate the expulsion of a member state from the free movement zone. Spain, therefore, fully retains its status as a member of Schengen, while the measures adopted by Italy constitute a temporary reintroduction of border controls and not an exclusion of the country from the European free movement area. Furthermore, Ceuta remains outside the Schengen area, so any subsequent movement from the city to the peninsula is subject to documentary controls.