The Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament called on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to intervene immediately to clarify the rules governing any suspension of the Schengen area by European Union member states following recent events in Ceuta.
In a letter sent to von der Leyen, the center-left parliamentary group said it was concerned about what it described as a deliberate misrepresentation by some governments of the situation in the Spanish enclave and of the possible consequences that could follow.
The group said no EU member state has the authority to expel another member state from the Schengen area and stressed that the bloc’s common rules must be applied in line with the rule of law rather than for political purposes.
The S&D Group said protecting Schengen meant safeguarding the free movement of people, which it described as one of the European Union’s greatest achievements.
The group also criticized reactions from right-wing and far-right parties and governments that called for border closures instead of showing solidarity with Spain. It argued that such responses risk creating a precedent that could allow European law to be manipulated for national political interests.
S&D Vice-President Ana Catarina Mendes said migration should be managed through regular entry channels, integration measures, rights and responsibilities, and efforts to combat traffickers and exploiters.
“Schengen cannot be defended by erecting new borders within Europe,” Mendes said. “It must be defended through a unified immigration policy and solidarity among member states.”
Mendes also referred to von der Leyen’s public statement that “no one has reached mainland Spain or the rest of the European Union,” questioning whether the legal conditions for reintroducing internal border controls had been met. She called on the Commission to clarify the legal basis for any such measures and to act in its role as guardian of the EU treaties if the conditions had not been satisfied.
Sandro Ruotolo, a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, said Schengen should not become a tool for political pressure between member states.
“Schengen is one of the European Union’s most important achievements,” Ruotolo said. “It cannot be called into question on the basis of propaganda and fear.”
Ruotolo also criticized rhetoric that dehumanizes migrants, saying political leaders should address migration challenges without promoting fear or hatred. He accused right-wing and far-right governments of manipulating the principle of free movement for political purposes and urged von der Leyen to ensure that the principles underpinning Schengen are respected.
The letter adds to a growing debate within the European Union over migration policy, border management and the balance between national measures and the bloc’s shared legal framework.
