France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez on Saturday said his country would not seek Spain's suspension from Schengen rules, after tens of thousands of migrants entered Spain's enclave of Ceuta in North Africa.

"Spain does not need to leave the Schengen zone. It's absolutely not on the table. We have great cooperation with Spain," he told reporters.

His comments came a day after Italy announced that it had suspended for a month its Schengen deal with Spain allowing for visa-free movement between borders.

Migrants wait at the CETI Temporary Immigration Center in Ceuta, Spain, August 2, 2026. (Photo: VCG)

"We are not asking for Spain's suspension from Schengen," he added.

France has stepped up controls at its southern border with Spain, Nunez said.

An estimated 60,000 migrants entered Ceuta over just a few days from neighbouring Morocco, but by Saturday almost all had left, Spanish authorities said.

Spanish officials have stressed that, under Schengen Area rules, Ceuta and another Spanish enclave in North Africa, Melilla, have specific procedures in place applying border controls for anybody boarding air or sea transport to mainland Europe.

Irregular entry into Ceuta does not confer a right to remain in Spain, travel to the mainland, or move freely throughout Europe, they said.