Belgium Split Over Schengen Suspension for Spain

Belgian MR party leader Georges-Louis Bouchez has called for Spain to be partially suspended from the Schengen Zone following the severe migration crisis in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, a proposal that has drawn sharp opposition from N-VA European Parliament member Johan Van Overtveldt. The debate has exposed significant tensions within Belgium’s governing coalition over how to respond to Europe’s latest migration emergency.

The Proposal

In a post on X on Sunday, Bouchez called for targeted controls on persons coming from Spain and for limiting the free movement of persons from that country, according to VRT NWS. The MR leader argued that Spain’s migration policies have created a dangerous pull effect across Europe.

“With a procedure of mass regularization, Spain perfectly illustrates what a ‘pull effect’ is,” Bouchez said. “Sanchez thus puts all of Europe in danger, because we know that illegal immigration is nowadays an easy source of cheap labor for serious crime, such as drug trafficking.”

Bouchez also stated he advocates for “targeted and selective migration” while “continuing to fulfill our humanitarian duty.”

Van Overtveldt’s Opposition

Van Overtveldt, speaking on Radio 1’s De Ochtend program, opposed the proposal, calling it “a bridge too far” while acknowledging that “it is clear where the problem lies: in Madrid.” He pointed to Spain’s mass regularization campaign as a key driver of the crisis.

While Van Overtveldt “understands the reaction” behind calls for suspension, he emphasized the importance of the Schengen Zone for the EU’s internal market “and therefore our prosperity.” He also questioned how such a suspension would work practically.

The N-VA politician’s stance aligns with the broader Belgian government position, which supports temporary border controls within the Schengen Zone in exceptional situations but does not endorse suspending Spain. Flemish Minister of Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt (N-VA) stated that “the message must be clear: whoever enters the European Union illegally must never receive a right of residence here.”

The Ceuta Crisis

The Schengen debate stems from one of the largest migration crises in recent European history. An estimated 60,000 migrants, mostly Moroccans, crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco in just over 24 hours in late July, either by foot or by swimming around the Tarajal breakwater. At least 72 people died in the attempt, according to Spanish authorities, though Morocco disputes the figure, reporting only 11 deaths, as NRC reported.

Most migrants were quickly returned to Morocco, with approximately 48,300 of 50,000 returning by Friday evening. The enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla are exceptions to the Schengen Zone, with border controls already in place for travel to the Spanish mainland.

Broader EU Divide

The Ceuta crisis has exposed a deep divide within the EU over migration policy. Italy, Finland, and Denmark have all called for Spain’s suspension from the Schengen Zone, with Italy going further by temporarily suspending its Schengen agreement with Spain and reintroducing border controls for air and sea travel, as The Guardian documented. France and Portugal have strengthened border controls but oppose suspension, while Slovakia’s Robert Fico also rejected the idea.

Leaders of 22 of 27 EU member states, including Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, signed a letter calling for immediate EU action on the Ceuta crisis and criticizing Spain’s migration policies. The letter criticized Spain’s mass regularization program, which critics argue creates a pull effect that attracts illegal migration.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has defended his country’s approach, calling critics “selfish” and accusing them of being “driven by prejudices, false information, ignorance or political interests.” In a letter seen by Politico, Sanchez argued that such attitudes are “contrary to European law, human rights and the principle of solidarity.” NPR noted that Sanchez has been a strong supporter of regulated migration, recently approving residency and work permits for hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants, with over a million applications received.

Legal Reality vs. Political Rhetoric

Legal experts are clear that a suspension of Spain from the Schengen Zone is not legally possible under current EU law. Professor Peter Van Elsuwege of Ghent University explained that “a suspension is not provided for in the Schengen Borders Code,” as reported by VRT NWS. Member states can temporarily reintroduce border controls at their own borders in exceptional circumstances, but they cannot expel another member state.

Van Elsuwege noted that “a solution will have to be reached together with Morocco,” emphasizing the importance of cooperation with the North African kingdom in managing the crisis.

The calls from Bouchez, Italy, Finland, and Denmark are therefore largely symbolic and political in nature. However, they serve to pressure Spain and signal to domestic audiences that leaders are taking a firm stance on migration.

Belgian Coalition Tensions

The debate highlights significant tensions within Belgium’s governing coalition. Bouchez (MR) and Van Overtveldt (N-VA) represent different approaches to the European migration crisis, despite both parties being part of the federal government.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot (MR) has stated that excluding Spain from the Schengen area “would in no case be a solution” and would be “unjust and disproportionate.” He noted it would deprive all Spaniards of their freedom of movement, as well as the many European tourists, including a large number of Belgian citizens.

Francesca Van Belleghem of Vlaams Belang criticized Bouchez’s call for the Danish migration model, noting that “here Vlaams Belang has been advocating for years.” She argued that “the EU may not decide on migration policy; it is a national competence.”

Belgium previously announced entry controls in June 2025 to combat illegal migration, using Article 23 of the Schengen Agreement, as NOS reported. The Vlaams Belang party has also demanded border controls and an asylum stop in response to the Ceuta crisis.

What’s Next

EU interior ministers held an emergency videoconference on Tuesday, August 4, to discuss the Ceuta crisis and coordinate a collective response. The outcome of this meeting will determine the EU’s next steps, including whether any additional measures are taken regarding Spain’s Schengen status.

The debate over Spain’s Schengen membership is likely to continue as a political issue within Belgium and across the EU. As Business AM noted, the crisis has become a symbol of the broader polarization around migration in Europe.

Professor Hendrik Vos of Ghent University observed that the crisis “illustrates that around the European Union you have a lot of instability.” With ongoing pressure at Europe’s borders and deep political divisions over how to respond, the Ceuta crisis may prove to be a defining moment for EU migration policy.

For Belgium, the challenge will be navigating internal coalition divisions while maintaining a coherent position at the European level. The government’s current stance—supporting temporary border controls but rejecting Schengen suspension—appears to be a compromise between the N-VA and MR positions, but whether it can hold under continued pressure remains to be seen.