At least 88 people died during the recent mass influx of migrants into Ceuta from Morocco, Spanish officials said on Monday, as European Union interior ministers prepare for an extraordinary meeting tomorrow to discuss a European response to the largest irregular border crossing ever recorded in the continent over such a short period. Around 60,000 non-EU nationals entered the Spanish enclave from Morocco in 24 hours, though most returned to Morocco on the same day.
The crisis has exposed deep divisions within the EU over migration policy and border management. Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares demanded "solidarity from all the member states of the European Union" in an interview with TVE today, warning that those who refuse to offer it "are working against Europe." He insisted that Ceuta and Melilla are not only Spanish borders but also external borders of the Union, so the response must be shared.
Internal Border Controls on the Table
On Saturday, 22 governments sent a letter led by Italy and Denmark calling for tomorrow's meeting to develop a European response to the event. The letter said: "We reiterate our readiness to take any necessary measures, in accordance with Union law and the Schengen Borders Code, to safeguard public order and address risks arising from secondary movements, including through reinforcing or reintroducing temporary internal border controls." According to the rules, EU countries can unilaterally suspend Schengen rules at their borders for a limited period in response to a security threat. The suspension can initially last for one month and be renewed for up to six months. In practice, this means increased patrols at border crossing points and a higher number of people being subject to document checks and inspections. However, not everyone is checked, as controls are selective rather than systematic. The 27 member states can propose to extend these rules to the whole Schengen area. To do so, a qualified majority must be met, which corresponds to at least 15 countries representing 65% of the European population.
The proposals were discussed by EU ambassadors at a preliminary meeting today. The ministers also called for an enhanced role for Frontex, the EU's border agency, in such situations. As an EU agency, Frontex acts at the request of the member state concerned and can provide staff, equipment, expertise and training, among other forms of support.
Spain Criticizes 'Reactionary International'
Albares was particularly critical of Italy over its attacks on Spain's handling of the crisis and placed that stance within what he described as a "reactionary international" which, in his view, is trying to exploit migration politically to weaken the European project. He insisted that "the integrity of the Schengen area is absolutely guaranteed" and called for an end to the "deliberate confusion" about how the free-movement area works. The Brussels meeting comes after several days of tension between Madrid and Rome, after proposals by the Italian government to toughen measures against Spain in the wake of the Ceuta crisis, an episode that has reopened the debate on how external borders are managed and on the sharing of responsibilities for migration policy within the EU.
Albares also highlighted Morocco's cooperation in containing the flow of migrants towards Ceuta and again thanked the Moroccan authorities for their support since the start of the crisis. At the same time, he condemned the rapid spread of false information about the situation in the autonomous city by certain international actors, whom he accused of fuelling disinformation around the management of the border.
Commission President Signals Tougher Measures
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reportedly told Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in a letter seen by Reuters that more must be done to strengthen the EU's borders at critical points. The ministers will examine the consequences of the biggest migration crisis recorded in Ceuta in decades, as well as possible support measures for Spain and the coordination of the European response to future episodes of pressure on the bloc's external borders. Although the enclave is located on the African continent, making it a difficult route for migrants seeking to reach mainland Europe, and despite its special border arrangements, images of the mass crossing sparked strong reactions from European governments.
Why This Matters:
The Ceuta crisis reveals the fragility of European solidarity on migration at precisely the moment when cooperation is most needed. At least 88 people died in this crossing, yet the dominant political response has been to discuss internal border controls rather than the conditions that drive mass movements or the legal obligations Europe holds toward asylum seekers. Spain's call for solidarity is correct — Ceuta is an EU external border, and the Union cannot function if member states abandon each other when migration pressure arrives. But the letter from 22 governments shows how quickly fear overtakes policy: suspending Schengen won't address the root causes of migration, won't improve asylum processing, and won't prevent future crises. The far right will exploit this chaos to argue that open borders have failed. The centre-left must respond with a realistic alternative: functioning asylum systems, legal pathways, burden-sharing mechanisms that actually work, and partnerships with origin countries that don't replicate the failures of past agreements. Without it, Europe risks becoming a fortress that betrays its own values while failing to secure its borders.