No migrants from Ceuta reached mainland Spain or EU, says von der Leyen

No migrants who entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in recent days managed to reach mainland Spain or other European Union countries, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed. She stated on social media that the "vast majority" of the approximately 60,000 migrants had returned to Morocco.

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The vast majority of them returned back to Morocco.

Von der Leyen noted that the EU possesses an "effective system" for managing such incidents, though she stressed the need for continued strengthening. She highlighted the importance of vigilance at all entry points and close coordination among European authorities.

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The EU has an effective system for such cases, but it needs to be further strengthened.

The situation in Ceuta is set to be discussed at an extraordinary meeting of EU interior ministers. Meanwhile, a Spanish far-right organization, Núcleo Nacional, called for a protest against the Spanish government, urging supporters to gather in Ceuta to "defend" the enclave. A local resident expressed concerns to Sky News that the protest could lead to violence.

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We need vigilance at all entry points and close coordination between the authorities of the European countries.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) called for an independent investigation into the reasons behind the mass arrival of migrants. The group criticized the "worrying silence" from Moroccan institutions, suggesting it contributed to further arrivals. AMDH holds the Moroccan state responsible for the situation, attributing it to public dissatisfaction with domestic policies.

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worrying silence