Spain Insists Schengen Area Integrity Is ‘Absolutely Guaranteed’ Amid Surge In Ceuta
Key Takeaways:
- Spain says Schengen integrity is “guaranteed” after the Ceuta migrant surge. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated that nearly all those who entered Ceuta have already returned to Morocco and that travel to mainland Spain requires police checks.
- Italy temporarily suspended its Schengen arrangement with Spain. Rome described the move as necessary to protect its citizens and Europe’s borders, while the EU migration commissioner confirmed no onward movement to the mainland had occurred.
- EU crisis coordination is underway. An Integrated Political Crisis Response meeting is scheduled for Saturday, with discussions expected on Morocco engagement and support for Spain; EU ambassadors will meet on Monday.
(EurActiv) — Spain said Friday that the integrity of the Schengen free-travel area was “guaranteed” after a surge of migrant arrivals in its north African enclave of Ceuta prompted Italy to announce temporary border controls with Spain.
“Practically the entirety of those who entered Ceuta have already returned to Morocco,” Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said in a message on X, accusing critics of spreading “confusion”.
Albares said people could not travel from Ceuta or neighbouring Melilla to mainland Spain without passing through police identification checks.
“The integrity of the Schengen Area is absolutely guaranteed,” he added.
Earlier on Friday, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Rome had temporarily suspended its Schengen arrangement with Spain, describing the move as “a necessary decision to protect the security of our citizens and defend Europe’s borders”.
Citing a phone call with Albares, Magnus Brunner, the EU commissioner for migration, said he was informed that “not a single person has crossed to mainland EU”.
“We will remain in close contact and are in touch with ministers across Europe,” the Austrian commissioner wrote on X.
Emergency crisis response meeting on Saturday
A meeting of the Integrated Political Crisis Response (ICPR) mechanism will be convened for Saturday, a spokesperson for the Irish presidency of the Council of the EU said on Friday.
Capitals are expected to discuss the recent developments, diplomatic engagement with Morocco as well as the support the bloc provides to Spain.
The ICPR is an EU crisis response mechanism to help coordinate political action during major emergencies.
A meeting of EU ambassadors is pencilled in for Monday.
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