Spain Threatens Retaliation on Italy Over Ceuta Border Controls

Sun Sep 06 2026 03:56:18 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Spain warns Italy it will impose countermeasures if it fails to lift strict entry restrictions after a wave of migrants crossed into Ceuta, heightening EU border tensions.

Spain has warned Italy that it will impose counter‑measures unless it removes the seizure of maritime, air and land entry points that were imposed after a mass influx of migrants into Ceuta. Around 78,000 people from Morocco swam and walked across the coast in a matter of hours, prompting Spain to call Italy’s Schengen suspension “unjustified” and “discriminatory.” Italy has refused to relinquish its controls, citing a risk of migrants moving to the EU. The standoff has escalated tensions between Madrid and Rome and could trigger broader EU border policy reviews.

Spain threatens retaliation against Italy for maintaining border controls after a massive influx of migrants into the Spanish exclave Ceuta.

In late July, roughly 78,000 people from Morocco crossed into Ceuta by sea within hours, leading to the deaths of about 100 migrants. The sudden surge prompted Spain to suspend maritime, air and land entry points, reinforcing border safeguards to prevent further movement to other EU states.

Madrid slammed Italy’s partial suspension of Schengen arrangements as "unjustified" and "discriminatory against the Spanish population". It demanded Italy reverse the decision by July 9 and threatened "proportionate measures" to protect Spanish citizens’ interests if non‑compliance continued.

Italy, which shares no land border with Spain, responded that it would not accept Madrid’s ultimatum and would keep restrictions in place until at least August 15, when it expects another migration wave to arrive in Ceuta.

Critics argue Italy’s action is driven by a desire to deter migrants from using Spain as a stepping‑stone into the EU, yet Spain dismisses the rationale as a "spurious argument" and notes that most migrants have already returned to Morocco.

EU reactions have been mixed: Finland and Denmark backed Italy, the Czech Republic pressed for temporary suspension of Spain’s Schengen membership, and the EU’s Migration Commissioner Blinder blamed criminal networks spreading misinformation for the crossings.

Spain’s Supreme Court has ruled that migrants stranded at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla cannot be summarily returned to Morocco, adding legal complexity to the diplomatic crisis. Morocco has blamed the court decision, saying the system’s deterrent collapsed under judicial pressure rather than criminal activity.

Additional concerns remain, as Moroccan media reports that online calls for coordinated mass crossings are resurfacing. Spain’s Youth Minister reported that around 1,400 minors still reside in Ceuta following last week’s crossings, with authorities prioritising vulnerable cases amid the overwhelming influx.