The European Commission has called for united action in response to a sudden surge of Moroccan migrants to Spain's mainland exclave of Ceuta. President Ursula von der Leyen thanked Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for a “swift handling” of the crisis but stressed that the incident demonstrates the urgent need to strengthen EU external borders.
Spain estimates around 69,500 migrants have returned to Morocco, with 72 fatalities reported inside Spain and 11 deaths on the Moroccan side. This figure surpasses earlier estimates of 50,000 arrivals.
In a planned emergency video conference, EU interior ministers will discuss new measures aimed at preventing irregular migration, bolstering border surveillance, cutting smuggling networks and improving enforcement of return policies.
The crisis has caused friction among EU states. Italy temporarily suspended Schengen cooperation with Spain, while Finland, Denmark and Czech Republic backed the move. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš even called for a temporary suspension of Spain’s Schengen status. Spanish officials point out that Ceuta lies outside the Schengen area, yet they fear some European governments will blame Spain for political reasons.
Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande‑Marlaska indicated that the situation has largely returned to normal and that an inflatable barrier is being developed to prevent future illegal maritime crossings. Meanwhile, von der Leyen urged the EU to “double down” on preventive cooperation with partner countries, early warning systems and stronger external barriers to protect migrant safety and maintain order.
