Spain has criticized the response of some of its European partners to a surge in migrant arrivals in the North African enclave of Ceuta, accusing them of "selfishness" and "partisan demagoguery." The Spanish government summoned Italy's ambassador after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni temporarily suspended the Schengen agreement with Spain, calling the situation "shocking" and a threat to national security.
During the incident, thousands of people, many swimming, arrived in Ceuta over a two-day period. Spanish authorities stated that the situation was "beginning to get under control" by Saturday morning, with migrants "returning peacefully." Images showed chaotic scenes of people scrambling from the sea onto rocks near a border fence, with Spanish soldiers and police escorting groups of migrants.
The breakdown in border controls led to calls from other European nations for stricter measures. Finland's Interior Minister Mari Rantanen announced preparations for restoring internal border checks and urged other European countries to support Italy's move. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also suggested the EU should "consider all options, including a suspension of Schengen co-operation." France tightened checks on its border with Spain and planned to increase its police presence, while Portugal was considering reinforcing its own border checks.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the images from Ceuta as "unacceptable" and stated that "anyone arriving without abiding by our rules" could not be allowed into the Union. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed support for Spain's intention to prevent illegal migrants from entering the continent and demanded that Morocco "take back illegal migrants immediately."
In the United States, the State Department attributed the incident to Spain's migration policies. Former President Donald Trump characterized the situation as a "catastrophe" and described it as resembling "an invasion of a country by hundreds of thousands of people."
The Schengen Area, a system of open borders spanning 29 European countries, has been a point of contention amid the influx. The agreement allows for the abolition of internal border controls, facilitating travel across member states.