European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged “united action” on border security after last week’s chaotic influx of tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco into Spain’s Ceuta enclave.
Spain says about 69,500 migrants have since returned to Morocco, surpassing initial estimates of 50,000, BBC reports.
Authorities report 72 deaths on the Spanish side and 11 on the Moroccan side. EU interior ministers will hold emergency video talks Tuesday as the Ceuta scenes strain ties among the bloc’s 27 members.
In a letter to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, von der Leyen praised Spain’s “swift handling” but stressed the need to strengthen borders at critical points.
Italy responded by temporarily suspending Schengen with Spain, a move backed by Finland and Denmark, while Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš called for Spain’s suspension from Schengen.
Sánchez countered that Ceuta is outside Schengen, voicing “serious concerns” over governments attacking Spain with “prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest.”
Von der Leyen warned that protecting external borders is a shared EU responsibility, calling for vigilant monitoring and physical barriers where needed.
She urged the bloc to double down on five areas: preventing irregular migration through partner cooperation, reinforcing external borders, early warning systems, dismantling smuggling networks, and stronger returns.
Sánchez accused traffickers of exploiting a recent Supreme Court ruling limiting immediate deportations by sea.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande‑Marlaska said Saturday the situation was nearly normal and Spain was working on an inflatable barrier to block illegal crossings by water.
