EU Urges Tightened Borders After Massive Ceuta Influx

Ceuta on the North African coast

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for “united action” on border security following a chaotic influx of tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco into Spain’s exclave of Ceuta last week.

Spain says about 69,500 migrants have now returned to Morocco, exceeding initial estimates of 50,000. The official death toll on the Spanish side of the border stands at 72, with 11 deaths on the Moroccan side.

EU interior ministers held an emergency video‑conference on Tuesday to debate the crisis, as the situation strained relations between several EU states.

The incident prompted Italy to temporarily suspend the Schengen arrangement with Spain; Finland and Denmark backed Italy, and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš urged a temporary suspension of Spain’s Schengen membership. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez replied that while most European governments expressed solidarity, some attacked Spain for “prejudice, fake news, ignorance or political interest.”

In her letter to Sánchez, von der Leyen praised his swift handling but emphasized the need for strengthened external borders, early‑warning systems, dismantling smuggling networks, and reinforced return policies.