Italy extends Schengen suspension with Spain

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has announced that her country will continue the 15-day suspension of the Schengen free movement agreement with Spain, according to Italian media reports on Monday. This decision follows the suspension, which began on July 31, in response to a tragic incident in Ceuta, a Spanish territory. During this unfortunate event, dozens of migrants lost their lives, sparking a massive European Union migration emergency. Spain's leftist government faced significant criticism, particularly from Italy.

The Interior Ministry of Italy clarified that the extension was due to the continued existence of factors that prompted the reintroduction of the measures on August 1. However, they did not provide further details. The ministry also acknowledged Spain's and the European Union's efforts to return the situation to normal in the near future.

Despite the majority of around 70,000 individuals who breached the barrier returning to Morocco after the incident, Spain decided to implement its own border controls for passengers arriving from Italy. On Monday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez alleged that a far-right international movement, allegedly linked to Russia and Israel, had orchestrated a disinformation campaign on social media, which led to the border crisis.

Sanchez claimed that the crisis was exacerbated by misleading information circulating on social media regarding a recent Supreme Court ruling.

Sanchez stated that there was no evidence implicating Moroccan authorities. Currently, approximately 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta, with at least 1,200 of them being minors. Spain has sought assistance from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) to handle the remaining migrants, amid growing protests from residents in Ceuta over their presence.

Ceuta, bordered by Morocco and the sea, lacks direct access to the mainland of the European Union, making it challenging for asylum seekers to enter the bloc from there.