EU nations demand urgent talks on migrant surge into Ceuta

A majority of European Union countries are demanding emergency talks to address the sudden surge of tens of thousands of migrants into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta. Leaders from 22 of the 27 EU member states signed an open letter calling for an urgent video conference of interior ministers.

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We have a duty to effectively deter and relentlessly combat illegal migration.

The letter emphasizes the "duty to effectively deter and relentlessly combat illegal migration." Ireland, holding the EU's rotating presidency, confirmed the meeting would occur on Tuesday. EU foreign policy chief Ursula von der Leyen supported the move, stating the bloc needs a "lessons learned process to improve our European resilience."

The initiative was spearheaded by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Meloni stated that defending the EU's external borders is a shared European responsibility, not just a national interest. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, along with the prime ministers of Hungary, Sweden, and Poland, also signed the letter. Notably absent were the leaders of France and Portugal, countries bordering Spain.

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not a single person reached mainland Spain or the rest of the EU

The signatories warned against allowing uncontrolled mass crossings or the "instrumentalisation of migration" to create the perception that illegal entry into the EU is possible. Such a perception, they argued, would encourage further attempts and undermine confidence in common migration policy. The letter suggested considering enhanced Frontex support and improving cooperation with Morocco.

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the line that Italy has long supported is today shared by an ever-growing number of European Nations. Defending the external borders of the Union is not the interest of a single Nation. It is a shared responsibility of Europe.

Spain's interior ministry reported that nearly all of the 60,000 migrants who entered Ceuta since Wednesday had already departed, and the situation was returning to normal. Images showed migrants swimming around a border barrier to enter the Spanish enclave on July 31.

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We cannot 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.