The Spanish government has criticized a number of European Union countries over the way they responded to the migrant crisis in Ceuta, saying they lacked solidarity and were taking a “selfish” approach.
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Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa, has experienced one of the largest single-day influxes into the EU ever recorded. In recent days, around 60,000 people crossed the border from Morocco, many of them swimming near the maritime border.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said the situation was gradually returning to normal. According to him, most of the people who entered Ceuta have been returned to Morocco following the deployment of the military and law enforcement forces.
Authorities also reported dozens of deaths caused by drownings and the chaos that erupted at the border. Madrid attributed the organization of these mass crossings to human trafficking networks.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the situation as a “violation of Spain’s territorial sovereignty,” while Spain appealed to its European partners for assistance. The government stressed that the country is among the few in the EU with land borders with Africa and faces migratory pressure directly.
The events in Ceuta prompted strong reactions across Europe. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for Spain to be expelled from the Schengen Area, describing the crisis as a threat to the security of Europe’s borders. Germany, France and Finland, along with other countries, called for stricter measures against illegal immigration.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the images coming from Ceuta as “unacceptable” and called for people without the right to remain to be returned quickly.
