Spain attacks 'selfish' response of some EU countries to Ceuta migrant crossings

Spain has condemned the "selfish, polarising and unlawful" reaction of some EU countries to the influx of about 60,000 migrants from Morocco to Ceuta.

Officials say almost all those who reached the enclave on 30 July have returned, while Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said on Saturday that the death toll had risen to at least 67.

It comes after Italy temporarily suspended the EU's border-free Schengen arrangement with Spain, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the scenes "shocking".

Finland and Denmark backed Italy's move, while Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš urged a temporary suspension of Spain's Schengen membership.

In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he had "serious concerns" about some European governments.

He said the Spanish government had fully restored control over the border and prevented any "unauthorised onward movement towards continental Europe" in less than 48 hours.

While most had shown "support and solidarity", Sanchez said other European governments had chosen to attack Spain, "driven by prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest", and pointed out that Ceuta was not part of the Schengen area.

"The European Union cannot afford this kind of selfish, polarising and unlawful reaction," he said.

The Spanish leader called for an urgent meeting with EU interior ministers to "reaffirm that the security of our external borders is a shared responsibility of all Member States".

Meanwhile, 22 of the EU's 27 countries also called for emergency talks in an open letter, citing "serious concerns" regarding the developments in Ceuta.

The nations "welcome that Spain and Morocco are cooperating closely to ensure the swift return of migrants", but said a video conference of EU interior ministers would help reach agreement on mobilising EU instruments and support for Spain to restore "effective control" of the border and prevent further uncontrolled crossings.

There were chaotic scenes on Thursday in Ceuta as border controls in the North African enclave apparently broke down.

In a news conference on Saturday, Grande-Marlaska told reporters the situation in Ceuta had almost returned to normal.

"Almost all of [the migrants] have already left Ceuta," the minister said, adding that businesses had now reopened. "The situation has been almost entirely reversed."

He also said Spain had started to establish an inflatable maritime barrier to prevent further illegal migrant entry.

But while the situation on the ground is easing, political and diplomatic fallout is rippling through Madrid and other capitals.

On Thursday, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on social media that such "uncontrolled immigration" was a threat to national security, before suspending the Schengen zone agreement with Spain for a month.

The Schengen Area is a system of open borders spanning 29 European countries that have abolished controls at their common borders.

Spain responded by summoning the Italian ambassador to Madrid, while its foreign minister said he expected "European solidarity and not partisan demagoguery".

Finland's Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said she had started preparations for restoring internal border checks "if the need arises". She also urged "all European countries" to support Meloni's move.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also urged the EU to "consider all options, including a suspension of Schengen co-operation".

France has tightened checks on its border with Spain and said it would increase its police presence by Saturday.

Portuguese PM Luis Montenegro said he was considering reinforcing border checks.

Von der Leyen said the images from Ceuta were "unacceptable". "We cannot allow anyone to come to our Union without abiding by our rules," she said on social media.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he "supports Spain's intention not to allow illegal migrants onto the European continent", and demanded that Morocco "take back illegal migrants immediately".

In the US, the State Department said the incident was a direct result of Spain's migration policies. President Donald Trump called the situation a "catastrophe" and said "it looks like an invasion of a country by hundreds of thousands of people".

Spain has defended its handling of the migrant surge. Madrid has sent troops, more police, drones, divers and boats to Ceuta. The country has also deployed its armed forces to bolster security in another Spanish enclave, Melilla, where hundreds of crossings were also reported.