Sánchez Responded Sharply to the EU Over the Crisis in Ceuta
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez criticized the response of some EU countries to the massive influx of migrants into Ceuta. In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, he stated that Spain had regained control of its border and repatriated nearly all illegal migrants in less than two days, but instead of receiving support, it faced criticism.
Sánchez also opposed the idea of temporarily excluding Spain from the Schengen Area and called on the EU to urgently agree on a joint response to the migration crisis.
In his letter, Sánchez expressed “deep concern” over the reaction of some European governments after approximately 50,000 migrants illegally entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta this week. According to the prime minister, Spain regained control of the border in less than 48 hours. The authorities also provided humanitarian aid to those who had entered the enclave and returned “virtually all” migrants who had crossed the border illegally.
Madrid also prevented their further unauthorized movement to other European countries. Sánchez noted that Spain acted in coordination with Morocco but received “very little support” from other EU member states.
Prime Minister Defends Spain’s Migration Policy
Sánchez also highlighted the results of Spain’s migration policy in recent years. According to him, it has significantly reduced the number of illegal arrivals into the country. The prime minister called Spain “the EU’s second-safest external border.” He emphasized that Spain is the only EU member state that shares a land border with Africa.
Sánchez also noted that Madrid had previously assisted other European countries during migration crises. In particular, Spain took in migrants who arrived in Eastern Europe via Belarus in 2021, as well as people who ended up on the Italian island of Lampedusa in 2023. Therefore, according to Sánchez, Spain expects the same solidarity from its partners now.
Madrid was outraged by proposals to exclude Spain from the Schengen Area
Separately, Sánchez criticized statements by some European governments regarding the possible temporary exclusion of Spain from the Schengen Area. In his view, such proposals stem from “prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interests.” He believes that such a position contradicts European and humanitarian law, as well as the principle of solidarity among EU countries.
Sánchez also pointed out another fact: Ceuta is not part of the Schengen Area. Furthermore, he said, virtually all migrants who entered the enclave illegally have already been returned. He also cited data from Frontex, according to which Spain’s external border is among the least vulnerable to illegal crossings among the EU’s external borders.
Spain Calls for an Urgent Meeting of Ministers
In light of the situation, Sánchez appealed to Ireland, which currently holds the EU Council presidency, to convene an extraordinary videoconference of EU interior ministers as soon as possible. The purpose of the meeting is to coordinate a joint response to the events in Ceuta and to determine what assistance the EU can provide to Spain.
Sánchez also called on European partners to reaffirm that protecting the EU’s external borders is a shared responsibility of all member states. The mass influx of migrants into Ceuta has already sparked serious debate in Europe. Some EU countries are demanding tighter controls at the external borders to prevent similar situations from recurring, while Madrid insists on joint European support rather than punishment for Spain. This was reported by El País.
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