Italy's Meloni faces setback on Schengen suspension with Spain

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni returned from the EU interior ministers' meeting without the expected political gains. The Italian government’s decision to temporarily suspend the Schengen agreement with Spain after the Theuta crisis was deemed ineffective, as no migrant flow entered the EU from the North‑African gateway. Italian officials now aim to lift the suspension by 15 August to avoid harming tourism.

Meloni’s proposal to set up migrant return centres in third‑country locations in Africa and Asia received little support, with only five of the 27 EU member states showing interest. Northern European countries expressed reluctance to bear additional costs that could affect Cohesion Fund allocations. Meanwhile, domestic pressure mounts as the far‑right National Future party gains traction and early elections are possible within eight months. Critics note that despite the hard‑line rhetoric, at least 150 000 irregular migrants have obtained residence and work permits through employer‑quota schemes over the past four years.