Ceuta migrant crisis sparks strong reactions from all over Europe

The Spanish government has denounced the "selfish, polarising and unlawful" response from certain EU nations to the influx of approximately 60,000 migrants from Morocco into Ceuta, a Spanish enclave. As of July 30, nearly all those who reached Ceuta have returned, according to Spanish officials. The death toll has climbed to at least 67.

Italy temporarily halted the EU's Schengen border-free agreement with Spain, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni describing the situation as "shocking". Finland and Denmark echoed Italy's decision, while Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš called for a temporary suspension of Spain's Schengen membership. EU interior ministers will convene for a video conference on Tuesday to deliberate the matter.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged an urgent meeting to emphasize the collective responsibility of EU member states for border security. Twenty-two out of the 27 EU countries called for emergency talks in an open letter, expressing serious concerns over the events in Ceuta. While Spain and Morocco are working together to ensure the swift return of migrants, EU interior ministers aim to find agreement on utilizing EU instruments and supporting Spain in restoring effective control of the border and preventing further unauthorized crossings.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed serious concerns about some European governments, alleging that they attacked Spain due to prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interests. He criticized Ceuta's exclusion from the Schengen area and asserted that the European Union cannot tolerate such selfish, polarising, and unlawful reactions.