The mass storming of Spain’s border at Ceuta has exposed the failure of Brussels’ migration policy, leaving EU governments scrambling to protect their own frontiers while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposes sending yet more money to Morocco.
Around 60,000 migrants illegally entered the Spanish enclave from Morocco last Thursday, many by swimming or wading around border barriers. At least 88 people died in what has been described as the largest illegal influx into the EU over such a short period.
Madrid insists that virtually all the migrants have since returned to Morocco. However, other European governments have demanded verified figures rather than simply accepting Spain’s claims.
Spain’s central government representative in Ceuta says around 2,500 migrants remain, while the enclave’s president, Juan Jesús Vivas, puts the true number at between 3,000 and 5,000. Vivas said the city’s reception centres for adults and unaccompanied minors had “collapsed.”
The crisis will dominate an emergency online meeting of EU interior ministers on Tuesday. Governments will consider restoring internal border controls, expanding the role of the EU border agency Frontex, and speeding up plans to deport rejected asylum seekers to centres outside Europe.
In a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday, von der Leyen admitted that protecting the EU’s external frontiers was a “shared European responsibility”.
“From this incident it is clear that we must do more to further strengthen our borders at critical points,” she wrote, calling for closer monitoring and physical barriers where necessary.
Yet the Commission president also praised Sánchez’s “swift handling” of the crisis, despite the catastrophic breach taking place under his government. She offered more EU money and Frontex personnel to defend Ceuta and the neighbouring Spanish enclave of Melilla.
Von der Leyen also proposed increasing financial and technical support for Morocco—the very country from which the migrants crossed.
“Morocco is an important strategic partner, particularly in our efforts to combat migrant smuggling and illegal migration,” she said.
The proposal highlights Brussels’ growing dependence on North African governments to enforce borders that European leaders have repeatedly failed to secure themselves. Such arrangements also give neighbouring countries considerable leverage over the EU whenever they relax migration controls or demand further concessions.
Morocco has blamed the crossings on false information spread through social media, people-smuggling networks, and the misinterpretation of a Spanish court ruling.
Von der Leyen said Tuesday’s meeting would be only a “first step”, with the crisis not due for further consideration by EU leaders until October.
Several national governments are already taking matters into their own hands. A letter led by Italy and Denmark and signed by 22 of the EU’s 27 member states demanded coordinated action to protect Europe’s external borders and prevent migrants moving between member states.
Italy has imposed temporary border checks on travellers arriving from Spain. France has also introduced additional controls.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to press ministers to accelerate the creation of migrant repatriation centres in Africa, modelled on Italy’s Albania scheme. Migrants whose asylum claims are rejected would be transferred outside the EU before being returned to their countries of origin.
Italy, Denmark, and Finland have also raised the prospect of suspending Spain from the Schengen area.
Sánchez responded by accusing his European critics of acting out of “political interest, ignorance and prejudice”. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares demanded greater “solidarity” from other countries and accused Italy of failing to “rise to the occasion”.
Spain’s left-wing government is already under fire over its decision to regularise more than 500,000 illegal migrants. Critics say the mass amnesty sent a clear message that entering Spain unlawfully could eventually be rewarded with legal residency.
“Sánchez’s government has been more concerned with manufacturing conspiracies and diplomatic disputes with its European partners than with demanding respect, cooperation and a reciprocal response from the Moroccan government,” said Dolors Montserrat, secretary general of the centre-right European People’s Party.
The Ceuta invasion was the first major test of the EU Migration Pact since it came into force in June. Within weeks, Brussels’ promised system of common control and solidarity has given way to an overrun border, unilateral national controls, and demands for emergency deportation measures.
