In brief
Around 60,000 migrants from Morocco crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, sparking a sharp backlash from Spanish officials. Spain restored full border control within 48 hours, ensuring that no irregular migrants reached the mainland. In response, Italy temporarily suspended its Schengen arrangement with Spain, with Finland, Denmark and the Czech Republic urging similar actions. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez accused trafficking gangs of orchestrating the surge and called for EU solidarity instead of partisan politics.
Spain has condemned the ‘selfish, polarising and unlawful’ reaction of several EU members to a surge of about 60,000 Moroccan migrants who crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in late July.
The state said the situation was being brought under control and that all migrants had been repatriated, with the interior minister noting the death toll had risen to 67. Sources also confirmed that no irregular migrants had reached the Spanish mainland in the 24 hours that the Spanish government had re‑secured the border.
Italy’s new prime minister triggered a temporary suspension of the Schengen agreement with Spain, labeling the influx a threat to national security. Finland and Denmark backed the move, while the Czech Republic urged a pause to Spain’s Schengen membership.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called on EU leaders to show solidarity rather than partisan demagoguery, pointing out that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen Area and that the influx was organised by trafficking gangs.
Madrid has deployed troops, police, drones, divers and boats to Ceuta, and has taken similar measures in neighbouring Melilla. The event has heightened diplomatic tensions between Spain and its EU partners and has prompted calls for tighter border checks across the Union.
