European Union interior ministers held an emergency meeting yesterday to address the recent surge of about 72,000 migrants who crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, located in North Africa. The influx, which began last Thursday, resulted in the deaths of at least 75 migrants, with the toll including drowning and crushing in chaotic conditions, according to Spanish authorities. Ceuta’s officials later revised the death count to 88, while Morocco reported at least 11 deaths on its side of the border.

The meeting focused on lessons learned from the crisis and on outlining steps to prevent future incidents. European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner described the surge as a test for the EU’s external border management and resilience. He attributed the influx mainly to criminal smuggling networks and disinformation campaigns on social media, which contributed to misinformation about entry conditions.

Following the crossing, about 70,000 migrants had departed Ceuta, Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said. The majority returned to Morocco, where authorities noted that many migrants found no food or shelter. The tension surrounding the event reignited debates over migration policy within the EU, exposing divisions among member states.

A significant point of contention was Spain’s recently announced plan to regularise approximately 500,000 undocumented migrants, which has attracted nearly 1.2 million applications. Twenty-two EU member states, led by Italy and Denmark, expressed concern in a letter that Spain’s policy could serve as a “pull factor” for irregular migration, though Brunner acknowledged that Spain’s decision was a national competence and mainly involved Latin American migrants sharing a common language and culture with Spain. Nonetheless, he characterized the regularisation plan as “not a good signal” for Europe.

In response to the crisis, Italy reinstated border controls with Spain—temporarily suspending Schengen passport-free travel arrangements between the two countries—a move criticized by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez as politically motivated. Brunner emphasized that any reintroduction of border checks under Schengen rules must be proportionate and temporary, noting his understanding of Italy’s actions due to citizens’ concerns.

France took a more cautious stance, opting not to sign the letter calling for renewed border checks but increasing its own controls. After the meeting, EU ministers broadly endorsed a five-point plan proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The plan calls for strengthening the EU’s external borders with improved early-warning systems, enhanced cooperation with third countries, and intensifying efforts against migrant smuggling networks.

Analysts have raised questions about Morocco’s role in the crisis, with some suggesting that Rabat may have tolerated the crossings as a form of political leverage, particularly given ongoing territorial disputes over Ceuta and Melilla. Morocco attributed the mass crossings to misinformation on social media, human trafficking activities, and misunderstandings of a Spanish court ruling.

The EU’s foreign policy service is investigating potential disinformation campaigns linked to the crisis, including possible Russian interference, though Commissioner Brunner noted that it was too early to draw conclusions.

Migration policy remains a divisive issue within the EU, with tensions heightened by far-right and nationalist parties seeking tougher measures amid a general downward trend in irregular border crossings. According to the EU border agency Frontex, irregular crossings totaled 178,000 in the first half of 2025, a 26% decrease from the previous year and the lowest since 2021, with Spain experiencing fewer arrivals than Italy, Greece, and the United Kingdom. The events in Ceuta offer a renewed impetus for the EU to balance national competencies, border control, and migration management in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.