Czech Republic, Denmark urge suspension of Spain from Schengen

The Czech Republic and Denmark have joined a growing group of European countries calling for action against Spain over migration pressures in its North African enclave of Ceuta, including proposals to suspend the country’s membership in the Schengen Area.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said it was necessary to immediately suspend Spain’s participation in the passport-free zone and temporarily reintroduce border controls, describing the situation as “scandalous, with responsibility for its emergence lying with the Spanish government,” according to the ČTK news agency.

Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka struck a more cautious tone, describing the situation in Ceuta as крайне сложной and a challenge not only for Spain but also for the European Union and the Schengen system. He said Prague was awaiting Madrid’s response and stopped short of backing Spain’s exclusion from the bloc, while attributing the crisis to what he described as a failure to address migration risks.

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen aligned with positions expressed by the Czech Republic, Italy and Finland, saying the European Union should consider suspending Spain’s Schengen membership.

Frederiksen said she had discussed the issue with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has proposed suspending the Schengen agreement with Spain. “We are gathering European leaders to discuss the situation,” she said, according to Agence France-Presse.

The calls come after a surge in migrant arrivals in Ceuta, where Spanish media have reported that thousands of people reached the enclave by swimming or walking around a coastal breakwater separating it from Morocco. The total number of arrivals may be as high as 60,000, with at least 34 people reported to have died attempting the crossing.

By Tamilla Hasanova