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A senior figure in Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party has urged Britain to work together with the European Union to strengthen its borders following the mass influx of migrants into the Spanish territory of Ceuta last month.
Between 5,000 and 8,000 migrants remain in the exclave, more than three weeks after an estimated 72,000 swam across or crossed the border on foot from Morocco.
Following the breach, Italy suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain, pausing visa-free movement between borders - a move supported by a host of EU countries including Finland, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Madrid retaliated with controls on travellers from Italy.
Speaking exclusively to GB News, Italian senator Lavinia Mennuni has now called on Britain to work with EU member states to tackle the “serious migrant crisis” on the continent after what she called a “massive invasion” of Europe.
“Italy suspended the Schengen treaty because of the massive invasion from the sea, obviously for reasons of national security," she said.
“We will have new political assessments, and we will try to understand what is happening to EU border security... It is really a rather serious crisis.”
Spain’s socialist Government has faced criticism over its handling of the situation, as the opposition People’s Party is demanding more immigration officers be sent to the exclave to process returns more quickly.
Lavinia Mennuni has now called on Britain to work with EU member states to tackle the 'serious migrant crisis' on the continent
|GETTY
Ministers are also thought to be planning to move 500 migrant girls from Ceuta to its mainland after reports of sexual assault in the region.
Ms Menunni criticised Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's "open door" policy, contrasting it with Italy's hardline approach to illegal immigration.
“We have economic agreements with the areas from which migrants depart. We really can't accept the policy of open doors that the Sanchez Government is continuing to work on… the immigration problem is becoming worse and worse.
“The Albania model, that means involving non-EU countries… is a very strong deterrent because obviously the migrants want to come to the EU. It worked in Italy very much under this point of view.”
EUROPE REELS FROM CEUTA INVASION - READ MORE:
Spanish ministers are also thought to be planning to move 500 migrant girls from Ceuta to its mainland after reports of sexual assault in the region
| REUTERS“The migrants just try to go where economic conditions are the best for them…This is the reason for which the Italian government has economic agreements with the nations of origin…because it is clear that we need to work altogether to help those areas of the world that are poorer.”
Under Ms Meloni’s leadership, Italy has seen a sharp decline in small boat arrivals.
Official Government data shows a 77 per cent reduction in illegal crossings compared to 2023, and a 52 per cent drop compared to last year.
The Brothers of Italy senator also told GB News the “invasion” of Ceuta was not just a warning for the EU, but for Britain too.
Under Giorgia Meloni’s leadership, Italy has seen a sharp decline in small boat arrivals
| GETTY“I did visit the UK not so long ago. I heard that there was a great worry about the problem, and I understood that it is becoming really heavy for everybody.
“The whole of the European Union and the United Kingdom also, because it is not the EU it is Europe, we must work together on it.”
The Spanish Government has now apologised to the people of Ceuta, declaring a situation of interest for national security in the exclave.
It also announced changes to migration and asylum legislation, seeking to align more closely with new EU regulations.