The migration crisis in Ceuta will dominate an emergency meeting of the European Union’s 27 interior ministers on Tuesday, as member states discuss how to prevent a repeat of last week’s mass border crossing into the Spanish enclave.
The meeting follows the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants in Ceuta, an incident that left more than 70 people dead and sparked political tensions across the bloc.
Spain is expected to call for greater European solidarity while presenting its assessment of the crisis and urging a coordinated EU response.
Madrid to defend its handling of crisis
According to officials familiar with Spain’s position, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska will argue that some governments focused on criticising Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez rather than supporting an EU member state facing an emergency.
Spanish authorities say almost all migrants who entered Ceuta have since returned to Morocco, with no reported onward movement into mainland Europe.
During talks among EU ambassadors on Monday, Spain’s representative outlined Madrid’s account of the events and criticised what it described as misinformation surrounding the crisis.
Several diplomats said ambassadors requested verification of Spain’s figures on returned migrants and agreed that developments should continue to be closely monitored.
Border controls and migration policy under scrutiny
Some member states also raised concerns that Spain’s migrant regularisation programme may have been exploited by people-smuggling networks to encourage crossings.
One diplomat said there were concerns that plans to legalise around one million undocumented migrants may have created the impression that entry into Spain had become easier.
Italy reportedly called for the immediate establishment of migrant return hubs outside the European Union, following recent legislation allowing member states to process rejected asylum seekers in third countries.
Spanish officials rejected claims that the regularisation programme automatically grants EU citizenship, stressing that it provides legal residency only for eligible applicants.
Commission backs common European response
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed support for Spain and Morocco, praising their management of the crisis and calling for greater European cooperation.
She said the events highlighted the need for stronger external border controls, closer cooperation with partner countries, improved early-warning systems, action against migrant smuggling networks and more effective return procedures.
Diplomats said Tuesday’s discussions are expected to focus on lessons learned, strengthening external border management and preparing for future cases of what the EU describes as the instrumentalisation of migration.
Migration expected to dominate autumn agenda
The videoconference will be chaired by Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan and will include representatives from Frontex, the EU Asylum Agency, Europol, the European External Action Service and Schengen-associated countries.
Officials expect migration to feature prominently ahead of the October European Council summit.
The European Commission is also expected to examine possible new migration measures in September, including proposals to strengthen the role of Frontex following its review of the Ceuta crisis.
Also read: About 49,000 migrants enter Spanish territory of Ceuta in 24 hours
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