Italy's temporary suspension of the Schengen free-movement agreement with Spain has taken effect, marking a significant escalation in tensions over migration within the European Union.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the move, saying Spain was being "attacked" from within the EU despite having fully restored control over its border. He urged an urgent teleconference of EU interior ministers to coordinate a collective response to the growing crisis.

The diplomatic dispute comes amid a severe migration emergency in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. According to Spanish authorities, 67 people died during a mass incursion from Morocco, highlighting the deadly consequences of irregular migration across the Mediterranean frontier.

Meanwhile, it is reported that thousands of migrants remain in Ceuta, placing increasing pressure on local authorities and humanitarian services.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also weighed in on the crisis, calling on Morocco to take back irregular migrants "without delay," underscoring growing concerns among EU member states over border security and migration management.

Italy's one-month suspension of the Schengen arrangement is expected to intensify debate within the European Union over the balance between free movement and national border controls as leaders seek a coordinated response to one of the bloc's most pressing challenges.