Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for Spain to be suspended from the European Union’s visa-free Schengen Area following a surge of migrants entering the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from neighbouring Morocco.

Meloni’s remarks came on Thursday, shortly after Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani made a similar appeal, arguing that the influx of irregular migrants posed a threat to European security.

“We are in the process of bringing together the competent authorities and, once these meetings are concluded, we are ready to act, including through exceptional measures such as suspending the Schengen agreement with Spain,” Meloni said in a post on X.

Describing scenes from Ceuta as “shocking”, the Italian Prime Minister said many of the migrants, including children, had swum to reach the enclave.

According to the Spanish government’s delegation in Ceuta, at least nine people died while attempting the dangerous crossing.

“Italy will not stand idly by,” Meloni said.

Earlier, Tajani also called for action against Spain.

“I am in favour of closing the Schengen Area with Spain,” he wrote on X, claiming that “irregular and uncontrolled immigration poses a danger to national security”.

He further argued that the Spanish government’s decision to grant Spanish – and therefore European Union – citizenship to more than 500,000 undocumented migrants was “profoundly wrong” and encouraged human trafficking.

Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, rejected the criticism, accusing Tajani of using immigration for political purposes.

He described the comments as “improper” for “a partner and friendly country from which we expect European solidarity, not partisan demagoguery”.

The Schengen Area allows passport-free travel across 29 European countries that have abolished routine border controls at their shared frontiers.

Meanwhile, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister, Matteo Salvini, has called for the suspension of the Schengen system as a whole, arguing that stricter border controls are needed to address irregular migration.

ALSO READ: Spanish national fined R500 000 for illegal reptile trafficking