Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is facing sharp criticism from European Union leaders regarding his migration policies, particularly in the wake of a significant influx of migrants to Ceuta, a Spanish territory located in North Africa. The surge of an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 migrants in late May led to a humanitarian crisis in Ceuta, where more than 80 individuals reportedly died from drowning or stampedes, according to Spanish and Moroccan authorities.
The events have ignited a debate within the 27-nation bloc, with open letters from 22 EU leaders challenging Sanchez's approach. These leaders, spanning from Finland to Malta, publicly criticized the incident and advocated for enhanced border security measures at sea, air, and land ports of entry. They attributed the crisis, in part, to a recent Spanish court ruling that prevented the summary deportation of migrants arriving by sea without due process, a measure they deemed detrimental to the EU's migration and asylum system.
Sanchez's government, however, has characterized these criticisms as politically motivated. They maintain that most migrants were returned from Ceuta within hours through close cooperation with Moroccan authorities, with minimal support from other European states. Sanchez also suggested that migrant smugglers intentionally misinterpreted the Spanish court's ruling to encourage people to cross by swimming around the border fence.
In response to the criticism, Sanchez defended Spain's actions by referencing its past solidarity with the EU, including its role in receiving migrants who arrived in Eastern European nations from Belarus in 2021 and to the southern Italian island of Lampedusa in 2023. Data from the EU's border agency, Frontex, indicates that migration to the EU peaked in 2015, but has since fallen dramatically, with crossings decreasing by 37% in the first half of 2026 compared to the previous year.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni was among the most vocal critics, announcing Italy's intention to enforce air and sea border controls with Spain. Sanchez countered by stating that Meloni's position was contrary to European and humanitarian law, and the principles of solidarity. He also asserted that Italy had admitted twice the number of migrants as Spain since 2021.
This disunity within the EU, as highlighted by the Ceuta crisis, occurs amid broader security threats from Moscow, instability with Washington, and economic tensions with Beijing, according to Alicia García-Herrero, chief economist for Asia Pacific and Middle East at Natixis. She described the situation as a display of "massive weakness" for Europe.
Michele Le Voy, director of the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants, criticized the political maneuvering surrounding the crisis and the EU's perceived inaction in addressing the root causes of migration. She called for "regular pathways for people to move in safety and dignity."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, after initially expressing shock and advocating for a firmer stance on migration, later sent a letter to Sanchez praising his handling of the crisis. A spokesperson for the commission indicated a need for a "lessons-learned process to improve our European resilience, preparedness and response," emphasizing the necessity to further strengthen external borders, including the potential use of physical barriers.