World · Schengen dispute · ArchiveItaly Demands Spain’s Expulsion from Schengen – But They Don’t Share a BorderAired August 1, 2026 at 10:40 AM UTCWritten September 7, 2026 at 9:22 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:00Italy has formally called for Spain to0:02be excluded from Europe's Schengen open0:04border zone following mass crossings at0:06the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Prime0:08Minister Georgia Meloni posted on X that0:11Italy is prepared to intervene,0:12including by suspending the agreement.0:14The crisis escalated rapidly. After the0:17Ceuta crossings, Meloni threatened0:19suspension, Italy formally demanded0:21exclusion, Spain summoned the ambassador0:24and accused Rome of using the crisis for0:25political gain. France tightened its0:28border with Spain and Finland backed0:29Italy's call. Meloni led the charge.0:32Spain's foreign minister accused Rome of0:34exploiting the crisis. France moved to0:36tighten its border with Spain and0:38Finland backed the call for suspension,0:40deepening the diplomatic rift. Italy0:42demands Spain's exclusion. Spain says it0:44is reinforcing borders but accuses Italy0:47of using the crisis politically, setting0:49up a direct clash. But Italy and Spain0:51do not share a land border, making a0:53direct Schengen suspension between them0:55largely symbolic. The practical impact0:58lands on Spain's border with France, now1:00tightening, and on the Schengen project1:02itself, as Spain prepares to argue its1:04case in Brussels.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗