The European Union has called for stronger protection of its external borders after a massive influx of migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, triggering political tensions across the bloc.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for his handling of the crisis but stressed that the incident demonstrated the need for enhanced border security at key entry points. In a letter to Sánchez, she described the protection of the EU’s external borders as a “shared European responsibility” and urged greater cooperation among member states.
According to Spanish authorities, around 69,500 migrants have already returned to Morocco, surpassing earlier estimates. Officials said the death toll from the crossings has reached 72 on the Spanish side and 11 on the Moroccan side.
EU interior ministers are scheduled to hold an emergency video conference on Tuesday to discuss the crisis and formulate a coordinated response.
The situation has also exposed divisions within the EU. Italy temporarily suspended its Schengen arrangements with Spain, a move supported by Finland and Denmark, while Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš called for Spain’s temporary suspension from the Schengen system.
Sánchez criticized those reactions, saying Ceuta is not part of the Schengen area and accusing some European governments of fueling the debate with “prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest.”
Von der Leyen urged the EU to intensify efforts in five key areas: preventing irregular migration through partnerships with origin and transit countries, strengthening external borders, improving early warning systems, dismantling migrant smuggling networks, and accelerating the return of migrants without legal status.
Spanish authorities said the situation in Ceuta has largely stabilized, with plans underway to install an inflatable sea barrier to curb future unauthorized crossings. Meanwhile, the Spanish government has blamed migrant trafficking networks for exploiting recent legal changes that limit the immediate deportation of people arriving by sea.
