The European Union has scheduled an emergency meeting for Tuesday to address a migration crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, where approximately 60,000 people arrived from Morocco. The surge has resulted in at least 67 deaths, according to officials, though authorities report that nearly all individuals have since departed the territory.
A coalition of 22 EU member states, including the Netherlands, Finland, and Belgium, has formally requested coordinated action to reinforce the bloc's external borders. In a letter addressed to EU leadership, these nations expressed concern that the influx represents a "hybrid threat" that could undermine confidence in common migration policies and encourage further unauthorized entries.
The situation has strained diplomatic relations within the bloc. Italy has suspended the border-free Schengen arrangement with Spain for one month, a move supported by Denmark and Finland, while France and Portugal are reportedly considering similar border control measures. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticized these reactions as "selfish, polarising and unlawful," noting that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen area. Sánchez emphasized that his government regained control of the border within 48 hours and prevented unauthorized movement into continental Europe.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska confirmed that the situation in Ceuta has largely stabilized, with local businesses resuming operations. The government is currently installing inflatable barriers in the water to deter future illegal crossings. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the scenes in Ceuta as "unacceptable," stating that the Union must enforce its rules regarding entry.
Source: BBC News
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