EU commends Spain's 'swift response' to Ceuta migrant crisis
On Tuesday, the European Union praised Spain’s rapid handling of the unprecedented surge of migrants into Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African coast, after a meeting of the bloc’s interior ministers.
According to Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande‑Marlaska, around 72,000 people crossed into Spain on 30 and 31 July, and an estimated 70,000 have since been returned to Morocco. The event caused at least 75 casualties in Spain and 11 in Morocco.
The meeting came after Italy described the scenes in Ceuta as "shocking" and suspended its Schengen Agreement with Spain, which mainly affected air travel but signalled heightened scrutiny of the EU’s borders.
Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan chaired the session, underscoring a united European response to migration. The EU, however, also expressed concerns, with Finland and Denmark echoing Italy’s call for temporary suspension of Spain’s Schengen membership.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticised the criticism, noting Ceuta lies outside the Schengen area and that Spain respects migrants’ rights. He highlighted a 25 million‑euro allocation to support minors in Ceuta.
The crisis was partly fueled by criminal networks and social-media misinformation, according to EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner. He offered emergency financial support to bolster Spain’s border security.
The interior ministry confirmed ongoing cooperation with Morocco to prevent further breaches and pledged that all remaining migrants would be returned promptly.
Images taken at the beach show crowds of migrants receiving food, water and assistance, some holding banners demanding asylum, while others slept on the sand waiting for aid.
