EU calls for joint action after migration crisis in Ceuta

On August 3, 2026, the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta triggered a chaotic situation that mobilized European Union authorities.

Ceuta migration crisis

According to Spanish estimates, about 69,500 migrants have already been returned to Morocco, surpassing the initial projection of 50,000. The official death toll on the Spanish side of the border reached 72, with 11 deaths recorded on the Moroccan side.

European Commission reaction

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, sent a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez praising his "swift handling" of the crisis, but emphasized that "From this incident, it is clear that we must do more to further strengthen our borders at critical points". She warned that the protection of external borders is a shared responsibility and called for vigilant monitoring and the use of physical barriers when necessary.

Measures adopted by Italy and other countries

In response to the Ceuta episode, Italy temporarily suspended the Schengen agreement with Spain. The Schengen agreement eliminates border checks and covers more than 450 million people in 29 European countries. Finland and Denmark supported the Italian measure, while Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš requested a temporary suspension of Spain's participation in Schengen.

Position of the Spanish government

Pedro Sánchez expressed "serious concerns" about some European governments and stressed that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen area. He accused some countries of attacking Spain motivated by "prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest". Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska reported that the situation has almost returned to normal and that an inflatable obstacle is being developed to prevent illegal migrations by sea.

Next steps for the EU

In the emergency videoconference scheduled for Tuesday, EU interior ministers will discuss lessons from the crisis. Von der Leyen called for “a common European response, united action and solidarity” and asked the Union to "double down" on five areas: preventing irregular migration in cooperation with partner states, strengthening external borders, implementing early warning systems, dismantling trafficking networks, and reinforcing returns.

With information from BBC News.