Spain has denounced what it terms a "selfish, polarising and unlawful" reaction from certain European Union members following the arrival of around 60,000 migrants from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on 30 July.

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska reported that nearly all migrants have been returned and confirmed the death toll has risen to at least 67. The government has taken swift action to regain control, including deploying troops, police, drones, and maritime barriers to prevent further illegal entries.

EU Tensions Over Migrant Influx

Italy responded by temporarily suspending the Schengen agreement with Spain, citing security concerns. Finland and Denmark supported Italy's move, and the Czech Prime Minister called for a similar suspension. In contrast, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticized these actions, stating some EU governments have attacked Spain driven by misinformation and political interests. He stressed that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen zone and called for an urgent meeting of EU interior ministers to reaffirm shared responsibility for border security.

A majority of EU nations—22 out of 27—have requested emergency talks to coordinate support and restore effective border control, highlighting ongoing cooperation between Spain and Morocco to manage the situation.

International Reactions and Domestic Measures

  • The UK has offered assistance following discussions between Prime Ministers Andy Burnham and Sánchez.
  • France and Portugal are reinforcing border checks with Spain.
  • EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the migrant crossings as unacceptable and emphasized adherence to Union rules.
  • Germany supports Spain’s efforts and urges Morocco to take back migrants promptly.

Spain’s government attributes the surge to trafficking networks exploiting a Supreme Court ruling that migrants intercepted at sea cannot be summarily returned without due process. The ruling, combined with social media organization, has intensified migration attempts during summer months, a pattern seen in previous years.

While the situation in Ceuta is stabilizing, the political and diplomatic fallout continues, with Madrid demanding solidarity and coordinated EU action to manage external borders effectively.