Spanish PM Sanchez faces criticism as EU meets over Ceuta crossings

What the report says

European Union interior ministers met after a mass crossing into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta brought renewed scrutiny of migration policy and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s handling of the crisis, according to Al Jazeera. The meeting was convened by Ireland, which holds the rotating EU presidency, after 22 of the bloc’s 27 member states called for coordinated action and stronger external borders.

Al Jazeera reported that more than 60,000 people crossed into Ceuta on Thursday and Friday last week, prompting Spain to send in extra police and military personnel. Spanish and Moroccan authorities said more than 80 migrants died during the episode. Spanish officials said that by Saturday almost all of those who entered had returned to Morocco and that order in Ceuta had largely been restored.

The dispute has exposed divisions inside the EU over how to balance border control, migration enforcement and humanitarian obligations. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized Sanchez and said Italy would temporarily reinstate air and sea border controls with Spain. Sanchez rejected the criticism, arguing that Italy’s response conflicted with European and humanitarian law and with EU solidarity.

Al Jazeera also noted broader context: irregular migration to the EU has fallen compared with earlier peaks, but migration remains politically charged, with human rights groups warning that tougher border policies and externalized asylum measures can leave people stranded or vulnerable to pushbacks.