Spain’s Sánchez calls national security meeting 26 days into Ceuta migration crisis
Critics had demanded the body be convened for weeks.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is set to convene the National Security Council on Tuesday to address the migration crisis in Ceuta, which has persisted for 26 days following the mass entry of migrants from Morocco. This marks the first time the emergency meeting of the council, comprising cabinet members, defense leaders, and intelligence officials, has been called. The meeting is scheduled to commence at 8:30 a.m. in Madrid's Moncloa Palace.
Prime Minister Sánchez has faced mounting pressure to convene the body for weeks, with opposition leaders urging him to rethink Spain's relationship with Morocco. The crisis began at the end of July when tens of thousands of migrants crossed into Ceuta in a single day, overwhelming local authorities. Spanish forces were subsequently deployed to manage the situation, and Prime Minister Sánchez referred to the crossings as an "attack" and a violation of Spanish territorial integrity.
While most migrants have since returned to Morocco, around 5,000 remain in Ceuta, with the interior ministry working to clear the backlog. The opposition People's Party is calling for additional immigration officers to be dispatched to Ceuta to process returns around the clock. In addition, the health ministry and regional governments are sending 25,000 vaccine doses to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases.
The incident has reignited debates on unauthorized migration at the European level, with 22 EU leaders signing a letter advocating for stronger external borders. The crisis also led to a dispute between Spain and Italy. Following Italy's decision to impose temporary checks on travelers arriving from Spain via air and sea, Madrid retaliated by implementing controls on Italian travelers.
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