©Antoine Schibler via Unsplash
The European Commission wants a joint European response to the crisis in Ceuta, following the massive and chaotic influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave in North Africa.
In a letter to Pedro Sánchez,Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that protecting the external borders is a shared European responsibility and that enhanced surveillance—and, where necessary, physical barriers—can be part of the solution. After all, the incidents in Ceuta led to significant tensions within the EU. Several Member States, including Italy, called for stricter measures against Spain, but suspending Spain’s Schengen membership is not legally possible without further ado, because Ceuta and Melilla fall under a special Schengen regime and one member state cannot unilaterally expel another country from Schengen.
Reaction from Brussels
Von der Leyen praised Spain and Morocco for their actions and stated that the illegal flow to the mainland had been prevented. According to her, the EU must learn lessons from the crisis and strengthen the resilience of its external borders. The European Commission also pointed out that there was no transit to the European mainland or other member states.
Death toll
The crisis also had a severe human toll. Spanish sources reported that at least 72 people died, mainly from drowning and being crushed during attempts to reach Ceuta. Thus, the crisis underscored not only the political but also the humanitarian dimension of the migration pressure at Europe’s border.
European summit
At Spain’s request, EU interior ministers will meet via videoconference on Tuesday to discuss the situation. The meeting is intended to lead to greater coordination on the protection of external borders, cooperation with third countries, and a common approach to countering disinformation regarding migration. European diplomats expect member states to support the Spanish and Moroccan approaches.
Implications for Schengen?
The discussion about Ceuta immediately touched on the limits of the Schengen system. Italy has already announced temporary border controls for traffic from Spain, but that is different from a complete exclusion from Schengen. The core of the debate is therefore not only migration, but also how far the EU can go in securing its external borders without undermining free movement within the Union.
©Antoine Schibler via Unsplash - Illustrative image.