EU calls for stronger borders after Ceuta migrant crossings
Summary
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for stronger border security after tens of thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. EU interior ministers will hold emergency talks to discuss the situation and plan joint actions to manage irregular migration and improve border control.Key Facts
- About 69,500 migrants have returned to Morocco after entering Ceuta, more than the initial estimate of 50,000.
- The migrant crossing resulted in 72 deaths on the Spanish side and 11 deaths on the Moroccan side.
- Italy temporarily suspended the Schengen agreement with Spain due to concerns over border security.
- Finland, Denmark, and the Czech Republic supported suspending Spain's Schengen membership temporarily.
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Ceuta is not part of the Schengen area and expressed concerns about some EU governments' criticisms.
- Von der Leyen emphasized that protecting EU external borders is a shared responsibility and called for measures like physical barriers and better monitoring.
- EU ministers will discuss cooperation with partner states, smuggling network dismantling, early warning systems, and strengthened migrant return processes.
- Spain is working on an inflatable barrier to prevent illegal migration by sea following the crisis.
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