The European Union publicly praised Spain for a swift response to a mass influx of migrants that hit the town of Ceuta on the north‑African coast in late July.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande‑Marlaska said about 72,000 people crossed into Spanish territory on 30‑31 July, with roughly 70,000 returned to Morocco, and at least 75 people died on the Spanish side of the border, 11 in Morocco.
EU interior ministers met in Brussels on Tuesday – after Italy, citing “shocking” images, had paused its Schengen free‑movement agreement with Spain – to discuss the crisis. Irish Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan led the meeting, stressing a united European response to migration.
Spain’s leader Pedro Sánchez warned “the crisis is no longer a national matter” and accused some European governments of attacking Spain based on prejudice or politics. He reminded that Ceuta is outside the Schengen area.
The Italian side later reinstated airport checks on Spanish flights – the only practical effect of the temporary Schengen suspension, as Spain and Italy do not share a land border.
Migrant aid was quickly mobilised: Red Cross teams delivered food to the stranded people, some of whom had been left on the beach for days without food, water or toilets. The Spanish government allocated around 25 million euros to support minors in Ceuta.
Several refugees voiced frustration that their stay in Spain was left open and their well‑being uncertain. One 23‑year‑old from Casablanca said he was motivated by a social‑media post and described the crossing as “the most traumatic experience ever”.
EU commissioner Magnus Brunner described the episode as a “test” of European resilience and border security that the union successfully passed, offering emergency financial aid to Spain.
Senior EU officials said the surge was tied to criminal networks and social‑media disinformation, an assessment that underlines the urgent need for coordinated border management in the post‑Schengen era.
