How Spain's migrant crisis created a political storm - whipped up by social media
The Ceuta crossings have shaken Europe politically, exposing divisions over the sensitive issue of migration, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford writes.
In a dramatic turn of events, tens of thousands of migrants swam into Spain's Ceuta enclave, leading to at least 72 deaths. The incident has sparked political turmoil across Europe, exposing divisions over migration policies. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has criticized the response, accusing some in the EU of attacking Spain instead of showing support.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni responded by suspending Italy's Schengen agreement with Spain, citing a security threat. Meloni's move was seen by the global right wing as a chance to sound tough and claw back votes ahead of her own election. Meanwhile, Spain is grappling with the question of what sparked the sudden influx.
Some argue it was a social media campaign promising an easy path to Europe, while others suggest it was a deliberate and possibly organized effort. The crisis has prompted calls for EU interior ministers to meet urgently to eliminate policies that could attract migrants to Europe, particularly Spain's controversial move to regularize the status of undocumented migrants.
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