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Spain has strongly criticised what it described as the “selfish, polarising and unlawful” response of some European Union member states to the recent mass migrant influx into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco.
The criticism came as Spanish authorities said the situation in Ceuta had largely returned to normal after almost all of the estimated 60,000 migrants who crossed into the North African territory on July 30 voluntarily returned to Morocco.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said on Saturday that the death toll from the crisis had risen to at least 67.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, expressed “serious concerns” over the reaction of some EU governments, saying Spain had restored control of the border and prevented any unauthorised movement of migrants into mainland Europe within 48 hours.
“While many countries showed solidarity, others chose to attack Spain, driven by prejudice, fake news, ignorance or political interests,” Sánchez wrote, stressing that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen free-travel area.
He urged the EU to convene an emergency meeting of interior ministers to reaffirm that protecting the bloc’s external borders is a shared responsibility.
The appeal came after Italy temporarily suspended its participation in the Schengen free-movement arrangement with Spain, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni describing the scenes in Ceuta as “shocking” and warning that uncontrolled migration posed a threat to European security.
Finland and Denmark backed Italy’s position, while Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš called for a temporary suspension of Spain’s Schengen membership. France also tightened checks along its border with Spain, and Portugal said it was considering similar measures.
At the same time, 22 of the EU’s 27 member states called for emergency consultations, expressing concern over the developments while welcoming cooperation between Spain and Morocco to facilitate the rapid return of migrants.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the scenes in Ceuta as “unacceptable” and said the EU must prevent irregular migration while dismantling human smuggling networks.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz backed Spain’s efforts to prevent migrants from reaching mainland Europe and urged Morocco to take back those who entered illegally.
Spanish authorities said businesses in Ceuta had reopened and normality was gradually returning. The government has also begun installing a floating maritime barrier and reinforced security with additional police, troops, drones, patrol boats and divers.
Sánchez blamed human trafficking networks for encouraging the mass crossing by misrepresenting a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla cannot be summarily returned to Morocco without due process.
European Commissioner Magnus Brunner said that, despite the large influx into Ceuta, no migrants had crossed from the enclave into mainland EU territory.
Ceuta and the neighbouring Spanish enclave of Melilla are the European Union’s only land borders with Africa and have long been key entry points for migrants seeking to reach Europe. Source: BBC News