Rabat – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for a stronger European response to irregular migration following the recent mass crossings into occupied Ceuta, arguing that the situation lays out the need to reinforce the European Union’s external borders.
Images from Ceuta had “once again demonstrated how urgent it is for Europe to respond to illegal immigration,” Meloni posted on X. She said Italy, together with Denmark, had promoted a letter signed by 22 of the EU’s 27 member states calling for coordinated action to strengthen external borders, combat irregular migration, dismantle human trafficking networks, improve migrant returns, and remove incentives for further illegal entries.
“It is an important signal: the line that Italy has long supported is today shared by an ever-growing number of European nations,” Meloni wrote, adding: “Defending the external borders of the Union is not the interest of a single nation. It is a shared responsibility of Europe.”
The statement marks Meloni’s latest criticism of Spain’s handling of the migration crisis after tens of thousands of migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco.
Her comments also come after Italy suspended the application of the Schengen free-travel regime with Spain following the mass migration attempts into Ceuta, a move that further escalated tensions over migration policy within the European Union.
The decision followed the arrival of an estimated 60,000 migrants into Ceuta within 24 hours, prompting heightened security measures and a diplomatic dispute between Madrid and Rome.
Earlier on Friday, Spain summoned Italy’s ambassador in Madrid after Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called for Spain to be suspended from the Schengen Area, accusing Madrid of failing to adequately control irregular migration.
