European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for united action on border security after a dramatic influx of around 70,000 migrants entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Spain says 69,500 migrants have since returned to Morocco, and the death toll on the Spanish side is 72, with 11 fatalities reported on the Moroccan side.
Von der Leyen thanked Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for his swift response but warned that the crisis highlighted the need for stronger security measures at key entry points.
In response, Italy has temporarily suspended the Schengen framework with Spain; Finland and Denmark backed the move, while Czech leader Andrej Babiš called for Spain’s temporary Schengen exit.
Spanish officials say Ceuta is outside the Schengen zone and are planning an inflatable barrier to halt further illegal crossings.
The European Union will hold emergency video conferencing among interior ministers on Tuesday to devise a coordinated response, focusing on preventing irregular migration, strengthening external borders, early warning systems, crackdowns on smuggling networks, and reinforcing returns.
