Italy temporarily suspends Schengen border-free travel with Spain over security concerns

Italy has temporarily suspended the application of the Schengen agreement with Spain, introducing border controls as part of what Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described as a necessary security measure.

In a post on X, Tajani said the temporary suspension was intended to safeguard the security of Italian citizens and protect the European Union’s external borders.

“The temporary suspension of Schengen with Spain is a necessary choice to safeguard the security of our citizens and defend the European borders,” Tajani wrote, adding that the measure is permitted under EU treaties and had become “unavoidable”.

He linked the decision to the “migrant crisis” in Ceuta, saying it highlighted that managing the EU’s borders is a shared responsibility among member states.

Tajani also stressed the need for European countries to work together to prevent uncontrolled migrant flows from entering the EU, warning of the associated security risks, including the threat of terrorism.