Ceuta crisis tests Schengen as Sicily watches its own frontier

Italy has temporarily suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain, a move that will affect people travelling by plane or boat between the two countries, according to The Guardian. The decision follows the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa, an influx that has prompted Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to decry a 'violation of territorial integrity' and other EU countries to criticise Madrid.

The crisis has unfolded over recent days, with at least 57 people dying trying to reach Ceuta, as reported by The Guardian. Spain has deployed the military to restore order, while France has tightened border checks and increased police numbers at its Spanish frontier, according to France 24. A majority of EU countries have called for emergency talks on the sudden inflow, The Local Italy reported.

For Sicily, the suspension is a stark reminder of the continent's shifting border politics. This island has long been the European frontier for migration across the Mediterranean, and the Ceuta crisis refocuses attention on how EU member states respond when borders are overwhelmed.