Mahmud Mir
Spain has strongly criticized the “selfish, polarizing, and unlawful” responses from certain EU nations regarding the recent surge of approximately 60,000 migrants arriving from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Officials from Spain report that nearly all individuals who arrived in Ceuta on July 30 have been returned, although the interior minister has confirmed that the tragic death toll from these crossings has now reached at least 67.
In response to the crisis, Italy has temporarily suspended the EU’s Schengen agreement with Spain, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni describing the situation as “shocking.” This move has garnered support from Finland and Denmark, while Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has called for a temporary halt to Spain’s Schengen membership.
To address the escalating situation, EU interior ministers are scheduled to convene via video conference on Tuesday. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has urged for an urgent meeting to emphasize that the security of the EU’s external borders is a collective responsibility among all Member States.
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In an open letter, 22 of the EU’s 27 countries have also requested emergency discussions, expressing “serious concerns” about the developments in Ceuta. They acknowledged the cooperation between Spain and Morocco in facilitating the swift return of migrants but emphasized that a video conference would be beneficial in reaching a consensus on mobilizing EU resources and support for Spain to regain “effective control” of its borders and prevent further uncontrolled crossings.
In a letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister Sánchez expressed his “serious concerns” regarding the actions of some European governments in light of this crisis.
