The European Union has called for tighter border controls and a coordinated response to irregular migration following the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the crisis showed the need for stronger protection of Europe’s external borders, describing border security as a shared responsibility among EU member states.
Spain estimates that about 69,500 migrants have since returned to Morocco after the crossings on July 30, with the official death toll reaching 72 on the Spanish side of the border and 11 in Morocco.
In a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, von der Leyen praised Spain’s response but warned that the incident highlighted the need for further action.
“From this incident, it is clear that we must do more to further strengthen our borders at critical points,” she said.
EU interior ministers are expected to hold emergency talks by video conference to assess the situation and discuss measures to prevent similar incidents.
The crisis has triggered tensions among some EU countries, with Italy temporarily suspending the Schengen arrangement with Spain. Finland and Denmark supported the move, while Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš called for a temporary suspension of Spain’s Schengen membership.
However, Sánchez criticised the reaction from some European leaders, accusing them of attacking Spain based on “prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest.”
The EU Commission President outlined five priority areas for tackling irregular migration, including cooperation with partner countries, stronger external borders, early warning systems, dismantling smuggling networks, and improving migrant returns.
Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said the situation in Ceuta had almost returned to normal, while authorities work on measures, including an inflatable barrier, to prevent illegal crossings by sea.
