EU commends Spain's 'swift response' to Ceuta migrant crisis

What the report says

The European Union has backed Spain’s handling of a sudden migrant influx into Ceuta, with interior ministers praising what they described as a swift response. According to BBC World News, Spain said around 72,000 migrants crossed into the North African Spanish territory over 30 and 31 July, and about 70,000 have since been returned to Morocco. Spain’s interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, said the situation had been brought under control after the large-scale crossings.

The BBC reported that the crisis left at least 75 people dead on the Spanish side of the border and 11 dead in Morocco. EU officials and ministers said the episode showed the need for a coordinated European approach to migration and border security. Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, who chaired the meeting, said the bloc stood in solidarity with Spain, while EU commissioner Magnus Brunner said the event had tested European resilience and security.

The article said the meeting followed tension between Spain and some other EU governments, especially after criticism from Italy. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had described the images from Ceuta as shocking, and Italy later introduced extra checks on travel from Spain under the Schengen system. Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, accused some governments of responding with prejudice or misinformation, while also saying Ceuta is outside the Schengen area.

The BBC added that the causes of the crossings remain unclear, though EU officials have suggested criminal networks and social media falsehoods may have played a role. The episode has intensified debate inside the EU over migration control, border management and solidarity among member states.