Political round-up: Spain’s government returns from summer feeling the heat after Ceuta crisis

Spain has turned to the European Union for assistance in handling thousands of migrants still stranded in Ceuta, nearly a month after an unprecedented mass crossing from Morocco. The Spanish government has formally requested help from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, to identify and process the remaining migrants in the North African Spanish territory.

Tensions have escalated in Ceuta, with protests, violence, and attacks on camps leading to calls for international law compliance and an individual assessment of each case before potential deportation. The crisis began on 30 July when at least 72,000 people crossed the border, resulting in around 100 confirmed deaths on the Spanish side and 14 in Morocco.

Human rights groups have raised concerns about the true number of fatalities. Demonstrations in Ceuta have turned violent, with tensions running high between locals and migrants. Authorities now seek Frontex support and emergency EU funding to manage the ongoing crisis, while local residents demand that migrants leave the territory.