In brief
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged unified action on border security after an unprecedented wave of migrants entered the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, pushing the death toll to 72 on the Spanish side. Spain estimates that 69,500 migrants have returned to Morocco, far exceeding earlier forecasts of 50,000. In response, Italian authorities temporarily suspended Spain’s status in the Schengen area, a move supported by Finland and Denmark, while Czech leaders pressed for a similar suspension. EU interior ministers are holding emergency video conferences to review lessons from the crisis, with Spain’s interior ministry planning an inflatable barrier to prevent further illegal crossings.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for "united action" on border security after the chaotic influx of tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta last week. Spanish authorities now estimate that about 69,500 migrants have returned to Morocco, surpassing earlier predictions of 50,000. The official death toll on the Spanish side of the border stands at 72, with 11 deaths on the Moroccan side.
The crisis has spurred emergency talks among EU interior ministers by video conference, and the situation has strained relations among several EU member states. In a letter praising Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s swift handling, von der Leyen also warned that the episode highlights the need to strengthen borders at critical points.
Italy temporarily suspended Spain’s participation in the Schengen Agreement following the events, a move that was welcomed by Finland and Denmark. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš urged a temporary suspension of Spain’s Schengen membership, while Sánchez highlighted that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen area, calling other European governments' criticism "driven by prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest".
Sánchez has also accused migrant traffickers of exploiting a recent Supreme Court ruling limiting the government’s ability to immediately deport people who arrived by sea. The interior ministry reports that the situation has mostly normalised and that an inflatable barrier is under construction to curb further illegal crossings.
In related coverage: Influx of migrants to Ceuta gives Spain diplomatic headache (3 days ago) and How Spain's migrant crisis created a political storm - whipped up by social media (2 days ago).
Want to share your experience in Ceuta? Tell us how it’s been for you.
