Italy closed its air and sea borders with Spain on Friday (31). and temporarily suspended the Schengen agreement. between the two countries. The Spanish response came minutes later: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez published Frontex data showing Italy leading the list of irregular entries into the European Union., with more than double the number of registrations in Spain.
According to figures cited by Sánchez, between 2021 and 2026 Italy recorded 478,6 irregular entries, compared to 234,7 in Spain. The Western Balkans route accounts for 340,6, Greece 259,8, and the eastern border 48.
The Italian decision came from the Ministry of the Interior, based on intelligence information analyzed by the Immigration and Border Security Analysis Committee, in a meeting chaired by Minister Matteo Piantedosi in Rome. The ministry did not detail the nature of this information and stated only that the measure is preventive. The government also reinforced border controls on the land border with France, following a conversation between Piantedosi and French Minister Laurent Nuñez.
The announcement comes a day after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni signaled "extraordinary measures" in response to the crossing of thousands of migrants from Morocco to the Spanish territory of Ceuta. For her, irregular immigration represents "a real threat" to European security.
The Supreme Court reaffirmed: citizenship is born with the person.
- New legal front opened
- Processes can still be filed.
- Individual assessment before any decision.
“An inevitable measure,” says Meloni.
On social media, the Prime Minister justified the decision. "This is an extraordinary measure, adopted to safeguard national security and prevent possible repercussions for our nation," she wrote. According to her, the suspension "will remain in effect only for the necessary time, with special attention to limiting any impact on summer tourist flows."
Spanish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani criticized Spanish immigration policy after Madrid granted citizenship to more than 500 migrants. The statement prompted Spain to summon the Italian ambassador, Giuseppe Buccino Grimaldi, for a formal protest.
Sánchez's response
On the social network X, the Spanish Prime Minister stated that "solidarity and empathy are optional," but that "respecting European treaties and data is not." He concluded by writing that... "This is not the time for division" and advocated for "a strong and united European Union".
In effect since 1985, the Schengen agreement It guarantees free movement between 29 European countries, but allows for temporary suspensions in case of a serious threat to internal security. The mechanism has already been activated almost 400 times. Italy itself resorted to it at the G7 and G8 summits and, in 2023, on the border with Slovenia, during the crisis on the Balkan route.
