Italy and Spain have become embroiled in a diplomatic dispute after thousands of migrants reportedly entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco. The incident prompted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to warn that Italy is prepared to take “extraordinary measures” to protect its borders, describing the scenes as proof that irregular migration poses a serious threat to Europe’s security.

Meloni, together with Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, called for Spain to be suspended from the Schengen free-travel area or for the agreement to be temporarily halted. Tajani also criticised Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s migration policy, arguing that plans to regularise hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants encourage human trafficking.

Spain strongly rejected the accusations, with Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares summoning the Italian ambassador in protest. Albares described Tajani’s remarks as inappropriate and said Spain expected European solidarity rather than political attacks from a partner country.

The dispute has also reached the European Parliament. Manfred Weber, president of the Parliament’s largest political group, the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), called for the EU’s Migration Pact and return rules to be enforced without delay, saying the Ceuta crisis highlighted the need for tougher action on migration.

Meanwhile, the European Commission said it is supporting Spain in safeguarding its borders and welcomed the close cooperation between Spain and Morocco to manage migration flows and facilitate the return of those who entered Ceuta illegally. The Commission also reaffirmed Morocco’s role as a key strategic partner in border management and efforts to combat migrant smuggling.

via Politico

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