Schengen

A Spanish supreme court ruling requiring a complex deportation process for migrants who bypass physical barriers led to a coordinated attempt by around 50,000 people to swim into Ceuta, resulting in at least 57 deaths. Migrants used social media to plan the journey, avoiding barriers to exploit legal loopholes, with contributing factors including human trafficking, Moroccan involvement, and socioeconomic issues like high youth unemployment in Morocco.

Over 48,000 migrants returned to Morocco after crossing the border to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta by sea, with 57 reported deaths during the crisis. France and Italy increased border controls, and Italy suspended Schengen free movement between Spain and Italy. Human Rights Watch noted chaotic returns and heavily fortified borders making crossings dangerous.

Italy has closed air and sea borders and suspended Schengen agreements with Spain due to a migrant crisis in the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta. The measures include border checks affecting flights and maritime transport, temporarily revoking Spain's Schengen border-free rights.

A new treaty between Britain and the EU has led to the removal of border checks between Spain and Gibraltar. The article questions whether Gibraltar is part of the Schengen zone, the UK, or both.