Sanchez urges European unity as Ceuta migration crisis fuels tensions
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for European unity on Friday as the Ceuta migration crisis deepened political divisions across Europe and drew criticism from the United States.
“This is not the time to divide,” Sanchez wrote on X, arguing that the European Union should remain united despite mounting pressure over the sharp rise in migrant arrivals in the Spanish-occupied enclave of Ceuta. The Ceuta migration crisis escalated after an estimated 60,000 migrants entered the territory in a single day.
Sanchez supported his appeal by citing Frontex data on irregular migration between 2021 and 2026. According to the figures, Italy recorded 478,600 irregular entries during the period, followed by the Western Balkans with 340,600, Greece with 259,800, and Spain with 234,760. He argued that migration pressure affected several parts of Europe and should be addressed collectively rather than through measures targeting Spain.
The Spanish leader’s remarks followed Italy’s decision to suspend the application of the Schengen free travel regime with Spain and temporarily close its air and sea borders to Spanish traffic, according to the Italian Interior Ministry. The measure came after an assessment by Italy’s Committee on Analysis of Immigration and Border Security, chaired by Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, in response to the unprecedented migrant arrivals in Ceuta.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and officials in Finland also called for Spain to be excluded from the Schengen area, arguing that Madrid’s handling of migration had created broader security concerns for the European Union.
Criticism also came from other European governments. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš attributed the crisis to Spain’s decision to grant legal status to hundreds of thousands of migrants already living in the country, saying the policy encouraged further migration.
The United States also criticized the Spanish government. The State Department accused Madrid of making “deliberate efforts to enable and facilitate mass illegal migration into Europe.”
US President Donald Trump described the developments in Ceuta as a warning for the United States, arguing that similar migration pressures could emerge if his political opponents returned to power.
Meanwhile, tensions remained high around Ceuta as thousands of migrants continued attempting to reach the Spanish territory. Moroccan security forces prevented groups from approaching the border fence, while clashes were reported near the crossing.
Although many migrants were returned, thousands remained across several neighborhoods of Ceuta without a clear destination, underscoring the continuing humanitarian and political challenges facing Spanish authorities.
