Key facts
- EU interior ministers convened to address the Ceuta migrant crisis.
- Ministers shifted from assigning blame to Spain to preventing future crises.
- The bloc expressed solidarity with Spain and praised its response.
- Smugglers and foreign actors were accused of exploiting the crisis to divide the EU.
- Calls were made for improved early-warning systems and cooperation with non-EU countries.
- The European Commission will investigate the causes of the influx.
EU interior ministers convened in Brussels to address the fallout from a significant migrant influx into the Spanish territory of Ceuta. The meeting marked a shift from public criticism of Spain's migration policies to a show of solidarity, with ministers praising Spain's response and focusing on preventing future crises.
Initially, several EU member states, including Italy and Denmark, had heavily criticised Spain's plan to regularise 500,000 undocumented migrants and asylum seekers, viewing it as a potential 'pull factor' for illegal migration. However, the emergency video conference on Tuesday aimed to draw a line under these divisions. Spain's interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, described the meeting as constructive, with member states recognising Madrid’s "immediate and efficient" response.
European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner, while stating the EU could not see a direct link between the Ceuta events and Spain's regularisation policy, cautioned that the policy was "definitely not a good signal for the rest of Europe." He acknowledged it was a member state's competence, particularly concerning Latin Americans with shared language and culture, but reiterated the negative signal it sent.
Ministers broadly endorsed a five-point plan proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, focusing on strengthening external borders, an early-warning system, and better cooperation with non-EU countries. The plan also includes fighting migrant smuggling networks, reinforcing returns, and improving foresight. The EU’s foreign policy service is investigating the potential role of Russian disinformation in exploiting the crisis to divide the bloc.
Despite the show of unity, tensions remain high, with Denmark emphasizing the need for tougher border controls and stating that uncontrolled immigration is a threat. Greece's Prime Minister Kyriákos Mitsotákis suggested that countries should be able to suspend asylum applications during exceptional situations, a proposal Brunner countered by stating the EU's migration pact offers solutions.