Spain PM slams EU 'selfishness' over Ceuta migrant crisis as death toll hits 67

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has sharply criticized the response of some European Union countries to a migrant crisis at the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, calling their attitude "selfish." Sanchez urged an emergency meeting of EU interior ministers to address the situation, which has seen a massive influx of migrants from Morocco.

Authorities in Spain have raised the death toll from the crisis to at least 67. In just a few days, an estimated 60,000 people crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, a small territory with a permanent population of only 80,000. This surge has overwhelmed local resources, with Spanish authorities working to return over 48,000 people to Morocco. Young migrants are being closely monitored by Spanish military and police and guided out of the territory if they linger too long.

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En la situación actual, la Unión Europea no puede permitirse este tipo de respuestas egoístas, de confrontación y que no son legales.

The crisis has exposed deep divisions within the EU. France has intensified border checks and plans to quintuple its police and gendarmerie presence to 334. Italy has suspended the Schengen agreement, which allows for visa-free travel between member states, with Spain for one month. While some European nations suggested suspending Spain's Schengen membership, Spain's foreign minister emphasized the integrity of the zone remains intact.

Sanchez's strong condemnation reflects Spain's frustration with what it perceives as a lack of solidarity from other EU members. The situation in Ceuta, a Spanish city on the North African coast, has become a focal point for migration challenges facing Europe, highlighting the complex geopolitical and humanitarian issues at play.

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La integridad del espacio Schengen se mantiene.