EU to Hold Emergency Meeting on Ceuta Migration Surge

The European Union scheduled emergency talks for Tuesday to address the recent migration surge in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, where roughly 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco. A joint letter signed by 22 member states urged coordinated measures and a strengthening of the EU's external borders.

Spain condemned the reaction of some EU members as "selfish, polarising and unlawful" after Italy suspended the Schengen arrangement with Spain, a step supported by Finland and Denmark. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that Spain had restored border control within 48 hours and prevented unauthorised onward movement toward the continent.

"Almost all of [the migrants] have already left Ceuta," said Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, adding that local businesses had reopened.

The letter to EU leaders warned that hybrid threats could create the perception that illegal entry into the Union is possible, potentially encouraging further attempts and undermining confidence in common migration policy. Leaders of the Netherlands, Finland and Belgium were among the signatories addressed to EU President Antonio Costa, Commission President von der Leyen and Irish Taoiseach Michael Martin, who holds the Council presidency.

Other EU officials called for possible border checks. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen urged the bloc to consider all options, including a suspension of Schengen cooperation, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz demanded that Morocco immediately return illegal migrants. The UK prime minister said the United Kingdom would provide assistance where possible.

The surge follows a pattern of seasonal migration attempts to Ceuta and neighboring Melilla, the EU's only land borders with Africa, often organised via social media. Authorities are also exploring an inflatable barrier to deter water crossings.