European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for "united action" to bolster border security after a significant influx of migrants into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta. The surge saw tens of thousands of individuals cross from Morocco into the territory.
Spain estimates that approximately 69,500 migrants have returned to Morocco, surpassing earlier figures of 50,000. The official death toll reported on the Spanish side of the border is 72, with an additional 11 deaths on the Moroccan side.
EU interior ministers are scheduled to hold emergency talks via video conference to address the situation. The events in Ceuta have reportedly strained relations among some of the 27 EU member states.
In a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, von der Leyen acknowledged his "swift handling" of the crisis but stated, "From this incident, it is clear that we must do more to further strengthen our borders at critical points."
In reaction to the crossings, Italy temporarily suspended the Schengen arrangement with Spain. The Schengen agreement, which eliminates internal border checks, currently includes 29 countries and facilitates travel for over 450 million people. Finland and Denmark supported Italy's decision, while Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš advocated for a temporary suspension of Spain's Schengen membership.
Sánchez responded by expressing "serious concerns" regarding the stances of some European governments, emphasizing that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen area. He noted that while most European governments offered "support and solidarity," others chose to criticize Spain, attributing their actions to "prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest."