Spanish troop deployment in Ceuta and calls for Schengen suspension
DiplomacyComments
The idea that a breach in Ceuta creates a systemic vulnerability for the rest of the EU ignores the actual geography. Ceuta is an enclave; people cannot simply walk from there to Milan or Berlin without crossing a sea or another national border.
It is worth noting that Spain and Morocco recently updated their joint security protocols. This deployment might be a coordinated effort to secure better migration management agreements rather than a total breakdown in relations.
This reminds me of the situation on the Belarus border... I wonder if the EU will use the same instrumentalization of migrants legal framework here to justify the response...
While it could be a coordinated tactic, it is just as likely that Morocco is simply unable to contain the surge. If the breach was unplanned, Spain's deployment is a reactive necessity rather than a strategic move for better agreements.
Italy has a point regarding the precedent. Once one member state reinstates internal controls, others usually follow to prevent migratory pressure shifts, effectively killing the Schengen utility regardless of the original cause.
The reports mention that Italy is specifically citing Article 25 of the Schengen Convention. This allows for the temporary reintroduction of border controls in cases of serious threats to public policy or internal security.
Regarding the precedent Mike mentioned, does the current legal framework distinguish between temporary border controls and a full suspension of the agreement? I am curious if Italy is seeking a formal suspension or just a multilateral endorsement of temporary checks.