Ceuta: the head of Spanish diplomacy attacks Italy. Tajani: "Irregulars are ca…

Madrid has once again criticized Italy on the migrant issue, defining the government as “not up to the task”. And in the evening the response also arrived from the Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Antonio Tajani, who declared on

The comparison with Lampedusa

In view of tomorrow’s meeting of EU Interior Ministers on the crisis of Ceuta, the head of Spanish diplomacy, Jos Manuel Albares, he condemned “some European governments” who, in his opinion, “were not up to the task”, citing Italy, which was the first to ask for Spain’s suspension. In particular, Albares, who spoke to the Spanish TV Tve in the morning, pointed out that Italy has the greater flow of irregular migrants, while Spain the least: “Year after year, Italy remains mired in the crisis of Lampedusa and fails to resolve this situation”, claimed the minister. Ceuta and Melilla, Albares said, “have never represented a threat” to the integrity of the Schengen area, while he found “such a threat and such permeability” in other European territories.

Tajani’s response

“I don’t answer to the Spanish Foreign Minister, but the numbers.” So on for Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. “Since 2023 – he adds – irregular migrants in Italy have decreased by 60% on an annual basis. From January to July 2026 landings fell by 80% compared to the same period in 2023. Irregular arrivals by sea as of 15 July 2026 were 15,323, -54% compared to 2025 and -50% compared to 2024. These numbers are the result of hard work, bilateral agreements with eight countries of origin and transit which today promote regular and safe migratory flows and combat human trafficking. And in fact the new EU Pact on asylum and migration has a marked Italian imprint, following the teachings of Silvio Berlusconi and the governments led by him. I underline that among the migrants who have arrived in Ceuta there are over 5000 from the sub-Saharan area, who cannot be repatriated or sent back to Morocco will they do? Where will they go? The decision to suspend Schengen, supported by 21 European countries, is in line with the Treaties and is the right one.”

The reaction of the League

“I would advise the Spanish Minister Albares who attacks Italy by saying that he does not know how to manage the migration phenomenon – while the Sanchez Government is the top – that his words are not from a politician but from modest provocateur. To repel the invasion of citizens from Morocco, Spain deployed the army and put rubber barriers at sea to dissuade those trying to swim. So everyone is good. This one anyway it’s their humanity, these are their useless ‘little lessons'”. This was stated by Simonetta Matone, former magistrate and Lega deputy.

The notification of the suspension of Schengen

Meanwhile, the European Commission has received notification from Italy on the suspension of the Schengen agreement. A European Commission source confirmed this to AGI and added that no other member country requested the suspension of the free movement agreement after the Ceuta migration crisis.