​Italy threatens to cancel free movement with Spain amid Moroccan migrant flood

Italy has threatened to close its border with Spain after a flood of Moroccan migrants swarmed the enclave of Ceuta.

On Thursday, thousands of Moroccans stormed the border into Spain's North African enclave - prompting calls for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to declare a national emergency.

Now, Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, has threatened to suspend the Schengen Zone with Italy, ending free movement between the two countries.

"The images coming from Ceuta are striking and demonstrate, once again, that uncontrolled illegal immigration poses a concrete threat to the security of Europe's borders," she said.

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She added: "Italy will not stand by and watch.

"We are convening the relevant bodies, and following these meetings, we are prepared to intervene with extraordinary measures to defend the borders and the safety of citizens, including the suspension of the Schengen Zone with Spain."

The Italian Prime Minister said she has now spoken with Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, whose actions Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani said he had "full confidence" in.

He said he was also in favour of closing the Schengen Zone, saying: "Irregular and uncontrolled immigration poses a danger to national security."

"The images coming from Ceuta show how the Madrid Government's decision to grant Spanish, and therefore European, citizenship to over 500,000 irregular immigrants is profoundly wrong and encourages human trafficking," he added.

In April, Spain's Government allowed 500,000 migrants to be given permanent status, giving them a path to citizenship.

But Spain's Foreign Minister said Mr Tajani's response was inappropriate from a Foreign Minister from an allied country.

"This message is unbecoming of the Foreign Minister of a partner and friendly country from which we expect European solidarity and not partisan demagoguery," he said.

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He also rebutted claims the flood of Moroccan migrants was because of the Spanish Government's decision to grant migrants permanent status.

Earlier this month, Spain's Supreme Court ruled that migrants intercepted at sea while trying to reach Ceuta or Spain's other North African enclave, Melilla, could not be returned to Morocco.

Spanish media has estimated that between 2,000 and 3,000 people entered Ceuta on Thursday, according to Reuters, but said the Guardia Civil had not confirmed the number.

And in the last two weeks, 1,500 migrants reached Ceuta by swimming, according to the head of Ceuta's regional government, Juan Jesus Vivas.

Mr Sanchez has not responded to Italy's Prime Minister, but insisted his country was "mobilising all necessary resources" to tackle migration to the enclave.

Nine migrants have died while attempting to enter Ceuta, adding to a total of 60 who have died in recent months.

Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Spain's Interior Minister, is now headed to Ceuta alongside the Prime Minister to meet officials and "monitor the situation", his department said.

The Interior Ministry said Morocco was working closely with Spain, saying police from the North African country had stopped "numerous people" from crossing the border.

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