Leaders from 22 of the European Union\u2019s 27 member states have written a joint letter calling for an urgent video conference of interior ministers after tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish North African exclave of Ceuta.<\/p>\n The letter, initiated by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, was addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Ant\u00f3nio Costa and Irish Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin, whose country currently holds the rotating Council presidency.<\/p>\n Signatories include the leaders of Germany, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Czechia, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta. France, Portugal, Luxembourg, Ireland and Spain itself did not sign.<\/p>\n The leaders expressed \u201cserious concern\u201d over the mass crossings, which peaked around 31 July with estimates of roughly 50,000 arrivals into the territory of about 85,000 residents. Spanish authorities say the large majority returned to Morocco within 48 hours, either voluntarily or through coordinated returns, and that there was no significant onward movement to mainland Spain or the rest of the EU. Dozens of people died during the attempts, many by drowning.<\/p>\n In the letter the 22 leaders stated they \u201ccannot allow uncontrolled mass crossings, the instrumentalisation of migration or other hybrid threats to create the perception that illegal entry into the European Union is possible.\u201d They called for a coordinated European response, including possible reinforcement or temporary reintroduction of internal border controls, stronger support from Frontex, and action against pull factors.<\/p>\n They specifically linked the surge to a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that restricted immediate \u201chot returns\u201d of people intercepted at sea while swimming toward Ceuta or Melilla, saying the judgment had been \u201cused to trigger this attack and abuse our migration and asylum system.\u201d They also criticised Spain\u2019s plans to regularise large numbers of irregular migrants as a potential incentive for further arrivals.<\/p>\n Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez rejected the criticism. In his own letter to the same EU recipients he described some partners\u2019 reactions as \u201cselfish,\u201d polarising and unlawful, pointed out that Ceuta lies outside the Schengen Area, and insisted that external-border security is a shared responsibility of all member states. He too called for an urgent interior ministers\u2019 meeting. S\u00e1nchez blamed trafficking networks for spreading a distorted interpretation of the court ruling and said Spanish and Moroccan authorities had worked quickly to restore control and facilitate returns.<\/p>\n Italy had already temporarily suspended Schengen free-movement rules for arrivals from Spain. Other governments had signalled support for tougher measures.<\/p>\n The Irish presidency is expected to convene the requested video conference of interior ministers in the coming days. The episode has sharpened existing EU divisions over external border management, national regularisation schemes and the integrity of the Schengen zone.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/greekcitytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1000230246-718x1024.webp)
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