The president of Ceuta, the Spanish exclave on the North African coast, has called on the European Union for urgent assistance to manage the ongoing migrant situation and enhance border security. Andr Sánchez described the territory as a “pressure cooker that can explode at any minute” during a visit to Brussels on Wednesday, where he addressed the European Parliament and held meetings with EU officials.

Ceuta experienced a dramatic influx of more than 70,000 migrants at the end of July, one of the largest sudden migrant surges into the EU in recent years. Despite efforts to manage the flow, between 5,000 and 10,000 migrants remain in Ceuta, which has a population of approximately 85,000. Sánchez emphasized that the current situation is unsustainable and called for a “special status” for both Ceuta and Melilla, another Spanish North African enclave, to better address their unique challenges.

The request for a special status includes financial support to strengthen border infrastructure and address humanitarian needs, particularly for vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied minors. Sánchez pressed for measures that would enable the Spanish territories to receive targeted state aid and further integration into EU frameworks, including potential inclusion in the customs union to facilitate the free movement of goods.

Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reaffirmed the government’s stance earlier this week, stating that migrants without valid asylum claims would be returned to Morocco. Meanwhile, the European Commission is reportedly considering Ceuta’s emergency assistance request “as a priority” and evaluating additional support through EU agencies such as Frontex, Europol, and the European Union Agency for Asylum.

The president of Ceuta, representing the opposition People’s Party, attributed the migrant influx to Moroccan authorities permitting the movement of people across the border, suggesting a deliberate attempt by Rabat to overwhelm the enclave. However, the Spanish government has denied any Moroccan complicity, and the European Commission continues to view Morocco as a key partner in managing migration. Moroccan officials have also denied involvement in facilitating the migrants’ departure.

Ceuta and Melilla maintain a specific Schengen border regime, with checks at their frontiers with Morocco and departures to mainland Spain. The crisis has reignited broader debates within Europe about migration policy and the responsibilities of border territories, highlighting persistent divisions over how to manage irregular migration flows effectively.