In brief
Uprising of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on the evening of 30 July has shocked EU leaders, forcing an emergency meeting to consider coordinated action and the strengthening of external borders. A joint letter from 22 member states warned of a “perception” that illegal entry is possible, which could spark further attempts. Spain said it had restored control and prevented onward flow, while critics from Italy, Finland, Denmark and others called for a temporary halt to Schengen checks. The crisis has already caused at least 67 deaths and saw most arrivals return within 48 hours. Negotiations will decide whether to suspend border freedom and deploy new security measures near Ceuta.
EU calls emergency meeting to discuss Ceuta migrant crossings
On Tuesday, the European Union convened an emergency summit after Spain reported a surge of approximately 60,000 migrants crossing into its enclave of Ceuta from Morocco the previous day. The sudden influx has prompted 22 member states to draft a joint letter demanding coordinated action and a tightening of outer borders.
Spain’s Minister of Interior, Fernando Grande‑Marlaska, announced that the situation had “almost returned to normal” and that an inflatable barrier was being studied to curb illegal maritime migration. By contrast, the Spanish government condemned the criticism from Italy, Finland and Denmark, labeling it “selfish, polarising and unlawful.”
According to the letter, the rise in crossings has created a false perception that entering the EU illegally is attainable, potentially encouraging further attempts and undermining confidence in the common migration policy. The EU’s external policy chief, Ursula von der Leyen, described the images of migrants in Ceuta as “unacceptable.”
Madrid’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed strong solidarity with his counterparts but warned it was driven by “prejudice, fake news or political interest.” He reminded participants that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen area, reinforcing his administration’s view that the outlet should be closed swiftly.
As the crisis continues, additional European leaders—including French, Portuguese and Danish prime ministers—have threatened to re‑introduce border checks, while the UK has offered to provide further assistance. The emergency talks will decide whether to temporarily suspend Schengen cooperation and what border security measures will be implemented near Ceuta.
