Italy Calls for Spain's Expulsion from Schengen
Emergency EU interior ministers' meeting reveals deep divisions. While Italy leads a restrictive bloc, France and Norway urge calm.
Emergency EU interior ministers' meeting reveals deep divisions. While Italy leads a restrictive bloc, France and Norway urge calm.
The mass influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta last week has escalated into an open diplomatic conflict within the European Union. At an emergency meeting of interior ministers held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for Spain's expulsion from the Schengen Area, while other member states urged solidarity and de-escalation.
According to Spanish data, as many as 72,000 migrants crossed the border from Morocco, with authorities having managed to return 70,000 so far. Other sources cite a somewhat lower figure of around 50,000 people attempting to cross. Although most migrants have been returned and have not continued their journey to the rest of Europe, images from Ceuta have sparked strong reactions across the continent. Additional concern was voiced by 22 leaders who signed an open letter to EU leadership expressing 'serious concern' over the situation.
Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi told the meeting that the time for concrete action has come. 'We, as the European Union, can no longer simply react to crises within our borders. Instead, we must act as a united and coherent bloc to stop migratory flows at their source and return those who do not have the right to stay in the EU,' Piantedosi stated.
Italy specifically calls for the establishment of reception centers for processing migrants and return centers in third countries, all funded from the EU budget. 'Now is the time to implement new models for external processing of asylum procedures and for return to safe third countries,' the Italian minister added. Italy's stance was supported by Nordic countries such as Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, which also called for the introduction of border controls toward Spain.
On the other hand, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez condemned attempts to divide the Union. At the same time, France has intensified border controls toward Spain as a precautionary measure but has expressed solidarity with Madrid and offered additional assistance through the Frontex agency.
Danish Minister for Refugees and Integration Morten Bødskov praised the swift response of Spanish authorities: 'I am very pleased with how quickly Spain reacted with police and defense, and that many migrants have already been returned to Morocco.'
Jørgen Carling, a researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), believes that today's meeting is primarily aimed at repairing damaged relations. 'This is essentially a kind of 'justification meeting' because disagreements among EU countries have escalated into open conflict. The meeting is more about mending relations among EU countries than about taking drastic action on immigration policy,' Carling explained.
Jan-Paul Brekke, research director at the Institute for Social Research, adds that the panic among member states is fueled by fear of losing control. 'The situation in Ceuta triggered strong reactions because authorities in EU countries fear that images from there could create the impression that there is no control over external borders,' Brekke said.
Carling notes that countries have clearly split into two camps. 'Spain is relatively isolated on the liberal side, with Italy and Denmark among those most prominent on the more restrictive side. Then there are other countries like France and Norway that are more in the middle,' he explained. Brekke believes the crisis reflects geopolitical relations in the region more than actual border pressure. 'This is a tragic event that likely says more about disagreements among countries in the region than about increased pressure on the EU's external border,' he concluded.
Despite heated debates, the meeting is expected to result in a confirmation of joint commitment to the recently agreed Migration Pact. 'The ministerial meeting today will primarily be used to confirm unity on the measures from the so-called Migration Pact. Some of the most important points will be reiterated, such as strong external borders, a focus on returning irregular migrants, and strengthening cooperation with countries along migration routes to the EU, such as Morocco, Turkey, and Tunisia,' Brekke said.
Norwegian Minister of Justice and Public Security Astri Aas-Hansen, who also participated in the meeting, emphasized the importance of control. 'We must have control over our borders. At the meeting, Spain will report on the situation in Ceuta and the measures it has taken to maintain strong control of external borders. This is crucial for a controlled and functional asylum and immigration system in Europe,' she stated. She added that she would commend Spain for its effective handling and highlighted Frontex's readiness to assist if needed.
Interestingly, Frontex data for the first half of 2026 shows a 37 percent decrease in irregular border crossings, further confirming that the current political crisis is more a result of internal disagreements and fear of losing control than an actual increase in migratory pressure.
