Stronger EU borders needed after Ceuta crisis, von der Leyen says
European Commission president says work needed in five areas of migration control including returning more people The president of the European Commission has called for action to strengthen Europe’s borders after tens of thousands of people arrived and quickly left the Spanish territory of Ceuta, triggering a furious row between Madrid and other European countries. In a letter to Spain’s prime…
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for stronger EU borders after a mass influx of migrants to the Spanish territory of Ceuta, triggering tensions with Spain and other European nations. The incident, which saw tens of thousands of people arrive and quickly depart, has prompted calls for improved border control, monitoring and physical barriers.
Von der Leyen praised Spain's prompt response and the successful return system, while noting that 69,500 migrants have been repatriated to Morocco over four days. The crisis has exposed deep divisions over migration and isolation for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has faced criticism from other governments. EU interior ministers are set to hold emergency talks on Tuesday to address the issue.
Von der Leyen outlined five areas for improvement: strengthening cooperation with non-EU countries, bolstering external borders, implementing early warning systems, dismantling smuggling networks, and boosting the returns of undocumented individuals. The EU recently opened offshore detention centres, but has faced criticism for the potential human rights risks.
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