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Jakub Krupa<\/p>\nWhat do we know so far on Ceuta migration crisisJakub Krupa<\/p>\n
Some 60,000 people are locally estimated to have crossed into the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco in the last 24 hours, as part of an attempt to overwhelm the Spanish border (13:46<\/a>).<\/p>\n At least 41 people reportedly died during the surge.<\/p>\n The migrants in Ceuta have no onwards route to the EU given the territory\u2019s special status under the Schengen rules (14:02<\/a>, 15:04<\/a>).<\/p>\n Spanish prime minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez said the crossings violated Spain\u2019s territorial integrity, as he blamed human trafficking gangs for wilfully misleading people about changes to Spain\u2019s migration rules and triggering the border run (12:51<\/a>, 12:54<\/a>, 13:17<\/a>).<\/p>\n Some 25,000 people voluntarily returned to Morocco on Friday, the Spanish interior ministry said, as authorities pledged to crack down on illegal migration and expedite returns (12:57<\/a>).<\/p>\n The crisis prompted critical reactions from across the EU, with Italy leading the controversial calls to suspend Spain\u2019s status in the Schengen area until the situation improves (9:42<\/a>, 13:52<\/a>).<\/p>\n The EU has called the situation \u201cunacceptable,\u201d and insisted that \u201creturns must be swift, as our rules allow,\u201d pledging to help Spain deal with the crisis (13:25<\/a>).<\/p>\n Map showing Ceuta in Spain and Europe<\/a>Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.31 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 26s ago<\/p>\n France’s Macron expresses solidarity with Spain after border crisis in Ceuta<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 12m ago<\/p>\n Italy says it’s suspending EU Schengen arrangements with Spain<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 19m ago<\/p>\n Nearly 50,000 migrants have returned to Morocco, Spain says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 36m ago<\/p>\n Trump condemns ‘invasion’ in Ceuta, criticises ‘bad management’ and ‘weak laws’ of Spain<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 47m ago<\/p>\n EU’s Costa expresses solidarity with Spain, praises ‘firm response’ and stresses migrants have no onward routes to EU<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n ‘Solidarity and empathy are optional. Respect for EU treaties is not,’ S\u00e1nchez hits back at critics<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n Spain needs to tighten asylum laws, border protections if Schengen is to survive, Poland’s Tusk says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n Death toll from Ceuta crossings has risen to 57<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1h ago<\/p>\n Ukraine warns against Russian disinformation seeking to exploit migration crisis in Ceuta<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n Czechia’s Babi\u0161 joins calls to suspend Spain’s Schengen membership<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n Most migrants returned to Morocco, Spain says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n Situation in Ceuta – in pictures<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 3h ago<\/p>\n At least 43 people died during Ceuta crossings<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 3h ago<\/p>\n ‘That’s going to be us in three years if the wrong side gets in,’ Trump responds to Ceuta crisis<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 3h ago<\/p>\n Ceuta ‘an unfortunate reminder of the consequences of mass migration,’ JD Vance says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 4h ago<\/p>\n ‘Unacceptable’ situation in Ceuta, but ‘no onward movements’ to Europe, EU commissioner says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 4h ago<\/p>\n Denmark’s Frederiksen urges EU to ‘consider all options’ including Spain’s Schengen suspension<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 4h ago<\/p>\n What do we know so far on Ceuta migration crisis<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Migration is where political narratives often clash with legal reality – snap analysis<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Spain says 25,000 migrants returned from Ceuta to Morocco today<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Former Spanish senior EU official dismisses Italy’s call to suspend Spain’s Schengen status<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Where is Ceuta? – locator map<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Estimated 60,000 migrants crossed into Spain’s Ceuta, with at least 34 dead, local leader says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n ‘Protecting borders crucial for combating illegal migration,’ Germany’s Merz says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n ‘Images coming from Ceuta are unacceptable,’ EU’s von der Leyen says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Ceuta crisis may be linked to diplomatic issues between Spain and Morocco – snap analysis<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n S\u00e1nchez blames human trafficking gangs for ‘violations’ in Ceuta<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 6h ago<\/p>\n Spain to set up temporary centre in Ceuta to send back migrants with no legal claim, says S\u00e1nchez<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 6h ago<\/p>\n Migration crisis in Ceuta ‘a violation of Spanish territorial sovereignty’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 6h ago<\/p>\n Spain’s S\u00e1nchez address media on migration crisis in Ceuta<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 6h ago<\/p>\n Spain needs to ‘act swiftly to regain control of the situation,’ Swedish PM says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 8h ago<\/p>\n France to strengthen controls at French-Spanish border in response to Ceuta crossings, minister says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 8h ago<\/p>\n Le Pen, Barnier call for France to strengthen border controls in response to Spain migration crisis<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 9h ago<\/p>\n Spanish opposition calls on S\u00e1nchez to ‘defend our national security’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 9h ago<\/p>\n 49,000 people believed to cross into Ceuta, more than half of its population<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 9h ago<\/p>\n Morning opening: Spain faces migration crisis in north African enclave of Ceuta<\/p>\n <\/a>France’s Macron expresses solidarity with Spain after border crisis in Ceuta<\/p>\n Meanwhile, ever a diplomat, France\u2019s Emmanuel Macron said he had been in touch with the Spanish government to express his solidarity and offer assistance to Spain<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI welcome the ongoing cooperation with Morocco, which has already enabled more than 40,000 returns from Ceuta to Morocco today. The interior ministers are in contact to ensure close monitoring of the situation,\u201d he said<\/a>.<\/p>\n As others, he also pointed out that \u201cCeuta does not benefit from freedom of movement to the rest of the Schengen Area.\u201d<\/p>\n But, as a precautionary measure, Macron said he had asked the interior ministry to strengthen the French controls on its border with Spain with four mobile units and drones.<\/p>\n He ended with a call for \u201csolidarity\u201d and joint \u201cresponsibility\u201d in \u201cenforcing rules of firmness on returns and the protection of the Union\u2019s external borders.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a> It\u2019s not exactly clear what the Italian decision covers in detail.<\/p>\n We are trying to find out.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Italy says it’s suspending EU Schengen arrangements with Spain<\/p>\n Italy said it was suspending \u2060the EU\u2019s \u2060border-free \u200bSchengen arrangements with Spain in response \u2060to a mass influx of \u2060migrants into the \u200bSpanish enclave \u200cof Ceuta \u200cfrom neighbouring Morocco, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n Italy \u200cdoes not have a land border with Spain<\/a> but the measure will impact \u200cpeople travelling by plane or \u200bboat between the two countries, the agency noted.<\/p>\n Italy\u2019s interior ministry said it had \u200balso agreed \u200bwith Paris \u200bto strengthen \u200bcontrols \u200calong the Franco-Italian \u200bland \u200bborder.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Nearly 50,000 migrants have returned to Morocco, Spain says<\/p>\n The latest estimates by the Spanish government say that 48,300 people have returned back to Morocco after crossing the border last night.<\/p>\n This means that only a fraction of the total \u2013 estimated to be between 50,000 (as per central government) and 60,000 (as per local government) \u2013 remain in Ceuta.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump condemns ‘invasion’ in Ceuta, criticises ‘bad management’ and ‘weak laws’ of Spain<\/p>\n In sharp contrast, the US president, Donald Trump, offered some critical commentary on Cueta, attacking Spain<\/a> for \u201cbad management\u201d and \u201cvery liberal laws.\u201d<\/p>\n It looks like he will want to draw comparisons with Spain to mobilise voters ahead of his upcoming midterms campaign in the US.<\/p>\n Here is what he said during a cabinet meeting. Note that some of his numbers \u2013 \u201chundreds of thousands of people\u201d \u2013 are wildly off.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw Spain yesterday, and I watched the catastrophe that took place. It was, it looks like an invasion of a country by hundreds of thousands of people. And that same thing is going to happen to us if the Republicans \u2026 get elected. Except worse, much bigger, much easier to get into.<\/p>\n Despite the fact that we have built thousands of miles of wall, which I said we were going to do, but we didn\u2019t have that fear. Again, we 1785516023 have the safest border in the world.<\/p>\n If we\u2019re not in office, our country will be invaded at levels that made Spain look small, high.<\/p>\n And when I watched it, I said, boy, I said, \u2026 that\u2019s going to be a talking point for the midterms, because when you look at what happened to Spain, they don\u2019t know what to do. And it\u2019s happening again today.<\/p>\n They\u2019re coming in by the tens of thousands. It just is just invading the country. And what that is\u2026 weak law, bad management, but very liberal law. They passed a couple of laws and people read, you know, people are smart. They read from other countries and they swam that three mile swim or however they got in, but nobody\u2019s seen it anything like it.<\/p>\n That will look good compared to what\u2019s going to happen to the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.04 EDT<\/p>\n EU’s Costa expresses solidarity with Spain, praises ‘firm response’ and stresses migrants have no onward routes to EU<\/p>\n European Council president Ant\u00f3nio Costa strikes a sympathetic tone in his response to the events of the last 24 hours.<\/p>\n In his statement<\/a>, markedly different in tone to that of several other EU leaders, he expresses his \u201csolidarity with Spain in the current situation of illegal migration in Ceuta.\u201d<\/p>\n As migration commissioner Brunner earlier (15:04<\/a>), he also specifically makes the point that \u201cthird-country nationals in Ceuta do not enjoy free movement to mainland Spain or the rest of the Schengen area\u201d (14:02<\/a>).<\/p>\n He also says that \u201cSpain\u2019s firm response, including ongoing accelerated returns, demonstrates our determination to protect our external borders, combat illegal migration, and dismantle criminal smuggling networks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI welcome Spain\u2019s close cooperation with Morocco in addressing this shared challenge and ensuring swift returns. We will remain in close contact with the Spanish authorities in the coming days.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>‘Solidarity and empathy are optional. Respect for EU treaties is not,’ S\u00e1nchez hits back at critics<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Spain\u2019s Pedro S\u00e1nchez has taken to social media to hit back at a group of countries calling for Spain to be suspended from the Schengen agreement, led by Italy<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cSolidarity and empathy are optional. Respect for European treaties and data is not,\u201d he said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Referencing the latest data on irregular entries into the bloc collected by the EU\u2019s border agency Frontex, he pointed out that more people crossed into the EU from Italy, the western Balkans, and Greece than from Spain<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not the time to divide. It is the time to continue building a strong and united EU,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Spain needs to tighten asylum laws, border protections if Schengen is to survive, Poland’s Tusk says<\/p>\n Poland\u2019s Donald Tusk urged Spain<\/a> to tighten its asylum laws, border procedures and build \u201ceffective\u201d barriers \u201cif Schengen is to survive.\u201d<\/p>\n In a rare post in English on X, he said:<\/p>\n \u201cPoland has tightened asylum laws, border procedures, and has built effective barriers on its border with Belarus, which is the eastern border of the EU. We have invested billions of euros and engaged thousands of soldiers, police officers and border guards. Spain must follow our example if Schengen is to survive.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Death toll from Ceuta crossings has risen to 57<\/p>\n The death toll has just been revised upwards once again, with 57 confirmed dead, according to El Pa\u00eds and RTVE Noticias.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Ukraine warns against Russian disinformation seeking to exploit migration crisis in Ceuta<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha has warned against a \u201can intensive Russian propaganda campaign across Europe<\/a> using pictures from Ceuta to sow destabilisation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere have been more than 1,500 publications on outlets identified by analysts as a pro-Russian network, led by Pravda and RT. Pravda Spanish has posted almost 300 of them. Every language edition of RT has pushed more than 25 news items on the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n He added<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cFor years, Moscow has used migration and other sensitive topics to stoke fear and destabilise European countries. <\/p>\n This is not about the situation itself, but about the way Russia tries to exploit any topic that can benefit its agenda. The only way to protect the public from this interference is to cut it off. <\/p>\n All Russian propaganda resources should be completely banned in every European country that takes its national security seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.14 EDT<\/p>\n Czechia’s Babi\u0161 joins calls to suspend Spain’s Schengen membership<\/p>\n Czech Republic\u2019s Andrej Babi\u0161 is the latest EU leader to join in political posturing calls to temporarily suspend Spain\u2019s participation in the Schengen area as a result of the Ceuta crisis.<\/p>\n Babi\u0161 also took the opportunity to criticise Spain\u2019s (completely separate) plans to regularise the legal status of some one million migrants in Spain, arguing that the EU\u2019s policy was going in the exactly opposite direction, \u010cT24 reported.<\/a><\/p>\n Share<\/a>Most migrants returned to Morocco, Spain says<\/p>\n The latest Spanish government estimates say that a majority of the migrants who crossed into Ceuta have now voluntarily returned to Morocco.<\/p>\n 37,500 people have made the way back, according to the latest estimates, out of the estimated 40,000 (according to the central government) to 60,000 (local government) that had crossed into Ceuta over the last 24 hours.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Situation in Ceuta – in picturesA group of migrants rests on a beach near the Tarajal border crossing in Ceuta, Spain. Photograph: Reduan Dris\/EPAMigrants rest outside the Temporary Center for Immigrants (CETI) after crossing from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Friday. Photograph: Antonio Sempere\/APSpain’s prime minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez and Minister of Interior Fernando Grande Marlaska visit the Spanish city of Ceuta. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty ImagesMigrants walk towards the border with Morocco to leave Spain, in Ceuta, Spain. Photograph: Fabian Bimmer\/ReutersSpanish soldiers control as migrants cross back to Morocco after they crossed the border to enter Spain’s north Africa’s Ceuta enclave. Photograph: Jorge Guerrero\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n There is one other part of EU\u2019s migration commissioner Brunner\u2019s statement (15:04<\/a>) that is worth highlighting.<\/p>\n He goes out of his way there to point out that \u201cMorocco is included on the EU list of safe countries of origin.\u201d<\/p>\n What it means is that, technically, any Moroccan nationals who crossed the border to Ceuta are unlikely to qualify for international protection given Morroco\u2019s status, as also picked up by Euronews\u2019s Jorge Liboreiro.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThey have to be quickly processed and returned,\u201d Liboreiro quotes a senior EU official as saying.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.23 EDT<\/p>\n At least 43 people died during Ceuta crossings<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the death toll from crossing has gone up to 43, the Spanish news agency EFE reported.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Reading the US comments to the events in Ceuta, it\u2019s worth keeping in mind that Spain\u2019s Pedro S\u00e1nchez has long been the main target of Trump\u2019s criticism in Europe<\/a>.<\/p>\n The pair repeatedly clashed on a number of issues, including Israel\/Palestine, Iran, Nato, and (obviously) migration, with the US president regularly threatening with all sorts of trade and other sanctions against Madrid.<\/p>\n Some examples:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.39 EDT<\/p>\n Local police sources in Ceuta told the El Pa\u00eds newspaper that the death toll has gone up to 41.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>‘That’s going to be us in three years if the wrong side gets in,’ Trump responds to Ceuta crisis<\/p>\n US president Donald Trump struck a similar tone, telling Fox News that the pictures coming from Spain<\/a> were \u201cterrible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s terrible. Remember that picture. That\u2019s going to be us in three years if the wrong side gets in,\u201d he said, as reported by Fox News<\/a>, referring to Democrats winning elections.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the Democrats get in, you will not live a very good life,\u201d he told Fox News\u2019s anchor Jacqui Heinrich who spoke with him earlier today.<\/a><\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\n