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The European Union has expressed approval of Spain’s handling of a major migrant surge in Ceuta, the Spanish territory located on Africa’s northern coast. During a meeting of EU interior ministers on Tuesday, bloc leaders commended Madrid’s rapid handling of the situation, which saw approximately 72,000 individuals cross into Ceuta between July 30 and 31. Spanish authorities report that roughly 70,000 of these migrants have already been returned to Morocco.
The crisis prompted mixed reactions across the EU, with some member states criticizing Spain’s management of the influx. Italy suspended border-free travel agreements with Spain and described scenes from Ceuta as concerning, while Denmark and other nations echoed similar worries about European border security. However, Spanish leadership rejected these criticisms, arguing that Ceuta falls outside the EU’s border agreement zone and accusing some governments of responding based on misinformation rather than facts.
European officials attributed the sudden mass crossing to criminal networks and misleading social media campaigns. At least 75 deaths occurred on the Spanish side, with 11 fatalities reported in Morocco. EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner characterized Europe’s response as a successful test of continental resilience, while announcing financial support from Brussels to strengthen Spain’s border infrastructure and assist with crisis management efforts.
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