The repercussions of the Ceuta migration crisis, in which thousands of people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave within a short period, continue to unfold despite Spanish authorities saying that a large number of migrants have returned to Moroccan territory.

Italy was the first European Union country to call for Spain’s suspension from the Schengen Area, a proposal that was later supported by other European figures and governments. However, such a move is not legally possible under current European legislation.

What Is the Schengen Area?

The Schengen Area is one of the European Union’s most significant achievements, creating a zone where internal border controls between participating countries have been abolished.

The area began developing gradually in 1985, with border checks first removed in 1995 between Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal.

Today, the Schengen Area includes 29 countries, consisting of most EU member states except Cyprus and Ireland, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

In practice, EU citizens and travelers from outside the bloc can move freely within the Schengen zone without undergoing routine border checks when traveling between member countries.

Can a Country Be Removed From Schengen?

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on Thursday for Spain’s suspension from the Schengen Area following the arrival of large numbers of undocumented migrants from Morocco into Ceuta.

Meloni described the scenes in Ceuta as "shocking."

Spain rejected the proposal and summoned the Italian ambassador in protest, accusing Rome of engaging in "demagoguery."

Finland backed the Italian call on Friday, while Denmark said the European Union should consider the proposal.

However, European legislation does not provide any legal mechanism to expel a country from the Schengen Area.

Marie-Laure Basilien-Gainche, a law professor at the University of Lyon 3, told AFP that "there is no provision within the Schengen framework that allows such an action."

She added that "one country cannot unilaterally expel another country from the area."

What Measures Can Be Taken?

Although removing a country from the Schengen Area is not possible, member states can temporarily reintroduce border controls under exceptional circumstances.

Schengen regulations allow countries to restore border checks when there is a "serious threat to internal security or public order," including terrorism, organized crime, or public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Countries can also reintroduce internal border controls in cases of "sudden, large-scale, and unauthorized movements of third-country nationals."

France tightened border checks with Spain on Friday following the Ceuta crisis.

Basilien-Gainche noted that "there are no shared borders between Italy and Spain, nor between Spain and Finland," limiting the practical impact of such measures.

What Is the European Union’s Position?

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the scenes in Ceuta as "unacceptable" and said her team was in contact with both Spain and Morocco.

However, the European Union rejected Italy’s call to suspend Spain from the Schengen Area.

A European official told AFP that the bloc understands that "some governments are concerned," but stressed that the priority is "securing our external borders."

The official also pointed out that the current crisis is linked to Ceuta, a Spanish enclave located in North Africa, and that reaching mainland Europe would require additional border checks, which have not occurred so far.

"It is not as if they arrive in Spain and then move on to France," the official said.