Spain’s Prime Minister Criticises EU Response to Ceuta Situation

Rome, August 2 – In a letter addressed to the European Union, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the limited assistance received from fellow member states as his country grappled with the migration surge at the Ceuta enclave. He demanded an emergency meeting of interior ministers, a request that followed Italy’s suspension of the Schengen agreement with Spain.

Sánchez argued that while Spain has re‑established control over its border, provided aid to migrants, and returned most irregular entrants, the broader European community has offered scant support. He described the proposal to temporarily exclude Spain from the Schengen area as selfish and illegal, suggesting it was driven by political bias rather than security concerns.

The Prime Minister also highlighted that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen zone and that Spain’s frontier remains one of the EU’s most secure and least vulnerable borders. He called on the Irish Presidency to convene a special session to reaffirm that safeguarding external borders is a collective responsibility.

Ursula von der Leyen, after receiving Sánchez’s note and a letter signed by 22 EU countries, approved an urgent video conference to assess the crisis. She reiterated the need for unity, stronger border controls, and tighter coordination among agencies, offering immediate assistance to Spain.

According to von der Leyen, recent migrants reaching Ceuta have not succeeded in moving onward to mainland Spain or other EU states, with most being sent back to Morocco. She emphasized that reinforcing border security and inter‑agency cooperation are vital to managing the situation.