Ceuta crisis exposed EU fractures and revived Morocco suspicions

The recent crisis in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, saw the European Union conduct its swiftest mass expulsion of migrants in history. This operation, paradoxically led by a socialist government often accused of leniency towards illegal immigration, also served to debunk the "invasion" narrative promoted by far-right politicians. However, the event starkly revealed the deep internal fractures plaguing the EU and reignited suspicions surrounding Morocco, a key strategic partner.

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The great majority of people who arrived irregularly have returned to Morocco thanks to the effective work of the Spanish and Moroccan security forces.

Spanish authorities reported that nearly all of the approximately 60,000 migrants who had entered Ceuta irregularly had departed the territory. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that no individuals had reached mainland Spain or the broader EU. She credited the "effective work of the Spanish and Moroccan security forces" for facilitating the return of the majority of migrants to Morocco.

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Not a single person has reached peninsular Spain or the rest of the European Union.

Geopolitically, Morocco's role remains a sensitive point. Madrid officially attributes the surge to smuggling networks that allegedly misinterpreted a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling. However, this official explanation has not convinced segments of the press or Spanish officials, who increasingly question the passivity, or even complicity, of Moroccan forces. The situation highlights the complex and often tense relationship between the EU and its North African neighbors regarding migration management.

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This interpretation had spread like wildfire through the networks of smugglers.