Paris, August 1: French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France has intensified border control with Spain following a surge of migrants arriving in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, located north of Morocco.
In a post on the social media platform X, President Macron stated, “Ceuta does not facilitate free movement like the Schengen area. However, I informed the Interior Minister yesterday that we should tighten control at our border with Spain if necessary. Four mobile police units, an aircraft, and drones have been deployed for this purpose.”
Local authorities in Ceuta reported that approximately 60,000 migrants have entered the enclave illegally via land and sea routes in recent days. According to the news agency Xinhua, 57 migrants lost their lives while attempting to swim to the area.
The Spanish government revealed that by Friday afternoon, around 48,000 migrants had left the Spanish territory to return to Morocco.
Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated on Friday evening that Rome is prepared to take extraordinary measures to secure Italy’s borders and protect its citizens. This decision includes the suspension of the Schengen area with Spain.
In a statement shared on X, PM Meloni emphasized, “The images coming from Ceuta are shocking and once again demonstrate that uncontrolled illegal immigration poses a significant threat to the security of Europe’s borders. I have spoken with Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi. Italy will not stand idly by.”
She further added, “We are calling relevant departments, and after these meetings, we are ready to take special measures to protect the border and ensure citizen safety, including suspending the Schengen area with Spain. We will not retreat an inch on illegal immigration. Protecting the border, preventing human trafficking, and effectively repatriating individuals will remain this government’s priority.”
Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani echoed similar sentiments, criticizing the Spanish government’s decision to grant citizenship to over 500,000 irregular immigrants. He supported the closure of the Schengen area for Spain.
He wrote on X, “I am in favor of closing the Schengen area for Spain, and I have complete trust in Minister Piantedosi. Irregular and uncontrolled immigration poses a threat to national security. The images from Ceuta show how misguided the Madrid government’s decision to grant Spanish and, therefore, European citizenship to over 500,000 irregular immigrants is, as it promotes human trafficking.”
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