PM Babiš calls for immediate Schengen closure to Spain over migration

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) has called for Spain to be immediately suspended from the Schengen Area following the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa.

Babiš described the situation as a scandal caused by the Spanish government and said it was unacceptable for an EU member state to pursue a migration policy based on legalizing the stay of illegal migrants while the European Union's overall approach was moving in the opposite direction.

Foreign Minister Petr Macinka (Motorists) described the situation as a serious challenge for the entire Schengen Area but stopped short of calling for Spain's exclusion, saying he wanted to hear Madrid's position before drawing conclusions. Schengen allows passport-free travel between participating European countries without permanent border controls.