EU to Hold Emergency Meeting of Interior Ministers Over Ceuta Migration Crisis

Madrid: The European Union will hold an emergency meeting of justice and interior ministers on Tuesday following the arrival of more than 50,000 migrants in Spain’s North African territory of Ceuta, an influx that has exposed sharp divisions among member states over migration and border policy.

The decision was unanimously approved during a meeting on Saturday involving representatives of EU governments and experts from the bloc’s border agency, Frontex. The talks also addressed concerns over suspected Russian disinformation efforts aimed at deepening divisions within the EU.

Spain confirmed that at least 67 people died during the mass crossing from Morocco. Some drowned, while others were crushed as large crowds attempted to cross the breakwater separating Ceuta from Moroccan territory.

Spanish authorities said migrant crossings had stopped overnight after police and security forces strengthened border controls. A 500-metre floating barrier and anchored buoys were being installed near the Tarajal beach breakwater to prevent further crossings.

According to reports, more than 48,000 migrants had voluntarily returned to Morocco by 6 pm on Friday. However, several thousand remained in Ceuta, prompting local authorities to maintain heightened security.

“We’re not back to normal because there are several thousand people who need to be returned,” Ceuta President Juan Jesus Vivas said, adding that the situation continued to cause concern among residents.

The crisis has triggered political tensions within the EU. Italy and Denmark, with support from Poland and Sweden, criticised Spain’s handling of the influx. Italy announced a one-month suspension of its Schengen arrangements with Spain and blamed the crisis partly on Madrid’s now-closed programme to regularise more than one million undocumented migrants and asylum seekers.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez rejected the criticism, accusing some European governments of spreading “fake news” and undermining EU solidarity. He said nearly all those who entered Ceuta had returned to Morocco after Spain deployed the army to prevent unauthorised movement towards mainland Europe.

Sanchez also noted that, according to Frontex data, Spain has one of the EU’s least porous external borders and recorded about half as many irregular entries as Italy between 2021 and 2026.

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said Ireland, which holds the rotating EU presidency, would convene Tuesday’s Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the crisis required “solidarity and a united European response.”

The latest influx far exceeds the 2021 mass crossing, when about 10,000 migrants entered Ceuta over two days amid diplomatic tensions between Spain and Morocco.