22 EU countries are calling for an urgent response to the crisis in Ceuta
22 European Union countries have called on EU leaders to respond urgently to the situation in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. In recent days, there has been a massive influx of migrants from Morocco, with tens of thousands of people attempting to enter EU territory illegally.
The leaders of these countries want the European Union to assist Spain and coordinate joint actions to control the situation at the external border. This is stated in a letter published on August 1 and addressed to European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and the Prime Minister of Ireland, who currently holds the presidency of the Council of the EU.
Who Signed the Letter
The document was endorsed by the leaders of 22 EU countries. Among them are Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Italy, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Malta, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Denmark, Bulgaria, Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, and Croatia. In the letter, they stated that the situation at the EU’s external border in Ceuta is a cause for serious concern.
European leaders emphasized that they do not want to allow a situation where mass illegal border crossings could create the impression that it is easy to enter the EU illegally and subsequently obtain the legal right to remain. In their view, such a situation could encourage more people to attempt to cross the border illegally. At the same time, it could undermine confidence in the EU’s common migration policy and create problems for other member states. “The events of recent days require an immediate and coordinated response from Europe,” the letter states.
The EU Wants to Help Spain
EU leaders welcomed the cooperation between Spain and Morocco. According to them, the countries are working to return migrants who entered Ceuta illegally as quickly as possible. “We welcome the fact that Spain and Morocco are working closely together to ensure the swift return of migrants who arrived illegally, and that a significant number of them have already been returned,” the authors of the statement noted.
They also expressed hope that, with EU support, the situation will be brought fully under control in the near future. Given the scale of the crisis, the 22 countries called on Ireland to convene an extraordinary meeting of EU interior ministers as soon as possible. At this meeting, they propose coordinating a joint response to the situation in Ceuta, in particular by swiftly utilizing available EU mechanisms and providing Spain with the necessary assistance.
What Is Happening in Ceuta
Ceuta is a Spanish enclave in North Africa that shares a land border with Morocco. In recent days, tens of thousands of migrants have attempted to enter Ceuta from Moroccan territory. Some of them managed to break through the border barriers. This has triggered a major crisis in the city and forced Spain to step up law enforcement efforts and the repatriation of undocumented migrants.
Estimates of the number of people vary. Ceuta authorities put the figure at approximately 60,000 migrants who have entered the city illegally. Spain’s Ministry of the Interior estimates the number at over 50,000. Against this backdrop, European countries fear that a mass illegal crossing of the external border could serve as a signal for new attempts to enter the EU. That is why 22 countries are calling for Spain not to be left to deal with the crisis alone and for a joint response to be developed at the EU level. This is stated in a letter from national leaders to EU leaders, published on August 1.
Spanish authorities reported that the situation following the mass influx of migrants into the enclave of Ceuta has been brought under control. According to official data, most of the people who crossed the border illegally have already voluntarily returned to Morocco.
