Spain Criticizes EU States Over Ceuta Migration Crisis Response
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Spain‘s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Saturday accused multiple European governments of responding to the migration crisis in Ceuta with bias, fake news, ignorance, or political gain, describing their approach as selfish, divisive, and unlawful.
In a letter addressed to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission; António Costa, President of the European Council; and Míchel Martin, the Prime Minister of Ireland, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, Sánchez called on the bloc to organize an emergency session of EU interior ministers to align a common reaction.
“The European Union cannot tolerate this type of selfish, polarizing, and illegal reaction,” Sánchez wrote in English.
Without naming specific governments, he stated, “The majority have shown us their support and solidarity, and have offered their help. However, some others have chosen to attack Spain, calling for its temporary expulsion from the Schengen Area.”
According to the letter, Spain established border controls in Ceuta – a Spanish territory in North Africa – provided humanitarian aid, repatriated nearly all irregular migrants who had arrived, and prevented unauthorized movement to other parts of Europe within 48 hours. These actions, the letter indicated, were carried out in coordination with Morocco but with minimal support from other EU member states.
Sánchez declared that the attitude of those governments contradicts European regulations, humanitarian laws, and the principles of solidarity underpinning the European Union.
He emphasized that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen Area and stated that proposals to suspend Spain from the passport-free zone therefore have no legal basis.
Sánchez highlighted how Spain had previously supported other member states during past migration crises, including the influx of migrants via Belarus in 2021 and on the Italian island of Lampedusa in 2023.
Reports indicate that Ireland convened a session of the EU’s Integrated Political Crisis Response Mechanism for Saturday, while member state representatives are scheduled to meet again on Monday to discuss the situation.
According to Spain’s Ministry of the Interior, at least 67 individuals lost their lives attempting to reach Spain during this crisis, while nearly 70,000 migrants who entered Ceuta from Morocco have been returned so far.
