Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has strongly criticized his European counterparts for their reaction to a massive surge of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Sánchez specifically took issue with Italy's decision to resume border controls, a move he deemed "selfish, polarizing and unlawful."
The influx of an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 migrants overwhelmed border crossings and strained local resources in Ceuta, a Spanish territory on the North African coast.
In a letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, Sánchez expressed dismay at what he described as an "asymmetric" response from other European governments. He stated that while most offered support, others "have chosen to attack Spain and to call for its temporary exclusion from the Schengen Area."
Sánchez, leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, highlighted Spain's swift action in returning nearly all the migrants to Morocco. He argued that such reactions were driven by "prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest" and were contrary to European law, humanitarian principles, and long-term European interests. He also pointed out that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen Area and that Spain, according to Frontex, has one of the EU's least porous external borders.
As a result of the crisis, Sánchez formally requested a meeting of the interior ministers of all 27 European Union countries to address the situation.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a conservative, had previously announced that 22 EU countries had signed a letter calling for stronger borders in response to the events in Ceuta. Meloni stated on social media that the images from Ceuta demonstrated the urgency for Europe to act on illegal immigration and that Italy's call for joint action to strengthen external borders was gaining broader support among European nations.
Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, announced that a meeting of the EU's Justice and Home Affairs Council would be convened to respond to the crisis.
Spanish authorities reported that by Friday evening, approximately 48,300 of the estimated 50,000 migrants who had crossed into Ceuta had already been returned to Morocco. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the vast majority of those who arrived illegally had returned, attributing this to effective Spanish and Moroccan law enforcement. She stated that no migrants reached mainland Spain or the rest of the EU.
Spain has announced plans to install a 500-meter-long barrier in the sea to help combat future migration challenges. At least 67 people were reported to have died during the border rush.