Austria and France have joined Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Italy in calling for Spain's suspension from the European Union's Schengen Agreement, according to Abu Ali Express. Six EU countries now back the move.
Austria and France have joined the call for Spain's suspension from the Schengen Agreement, bringing the number of supporting EU countries to six, according to a report by Abu Ali Express published Friday at 17:16 Jerusalem time. The development marks the latest escalation in a diplomatic push that began earlier Friday afternoon.
The push was first reported at 15:10 Jerusalem, when Denmark's Prime Minister called for the EU to consider suspending Spain from the Schengen area over the migrant crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Shortly after, at the same timestamp, reports indicated that Italy, Finland, Sweden, and France were escalating pressure on Spain, with Italy and Finland calling for suspension, Sweden urging Madrid to 'regain control' of its territory, and France reinforcing its border. Subsequently, a formal joint call for suspension was issued by Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Italy, as The Zioneer reported at 16:44 Jerusalem. The new report adds Austria and France to the list of countries explicitly backing the suspension.
The specific reasons for the suspension request have not been detailed. The calls are tied to the ongoing migrant crisis in Ceuta, a Spanish exclave in North Africa that has seen a surge of illegal crossings, though the exact trigger for the coordinated diplomatic pressure remains unclear.
It remains unclear whether the move will gain further support within the EU, and whether the European Commission will take up the suspension request. The six countries backing the call represent a significant bloc but not a majority of the 27-member union.
5 developments
- StrongVon der Leyen: EU will not admit migrants who fail to comply with entry rules
- DevelopingAbu Ali Express: European media, political circles increasingly call for isolating Spain over Ceuta crisis
- DevelopingFrench Interior Minister orders reinforced border controls with Spain over Ceuta migrant crisis
- StrongSpanish residents curse PM Sánchez, blame him for Ceuta migrant crisis
Source and signal
- Open-source intake