Ceuta Crisis Exposes Cracks in Europe's Open-Border System

A surge of migration into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta has left dozens dead and has become a test of European solidarity. Italy's response has put that solidarity to the limit.

Migrants cross into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Photo: Jon Nazca/Reuters

The Spanish autonomous enclave of Ceuta in North Africa has faced one of the largest waves of migration in its history. Madrid reported that approximately 50,000 people had crossed into Ceuta from Morocco in recent days, though local authorities put the figure closer to 60,000. Spanish authorities claim that most of the migrants have already voluntarily returned to Morocco. At least 57 people died while attempting to reach Ceuta.

The mass arrival of migrants has caused tension among European Union member states.

Italy announced that it is suspending the application of Schengen rules on the free movement of persons with Spain for one month. Travelers between the two countries by air or sea will once again be required to present a travel document upon entry. Rome has also agreed with France to tighten controls at the French-Italian border to prevent the potential movement of migrants. Madrid, by contrast, has rejected the move outright, calling it a violation of European treaties.

EU Leaders Divided on Response to Ceuta

The crisis has split opinion further afield as well. Several EU member states, including Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Austria, moved closer to Italy's position on the crisis. Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said Spain had "completely failed to protect the external border of the Schengen area".

Other European leaders sided with Madrid. European Council President António Costa backed Spain, noting that migrants arriving in Ceuta do not have free movement rights to mainland Spain or the rest of the Schengen area, and said Spain was pursuing accelerated returns and cooperation with Morocco. European Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner said there was no evidence that migrants had moved from Ceuta into other parts of the Schengen area.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that excluding Spain from the Schengen Area will not resolve the current migration crisis in the Spanish autonomous region of Ceuta. According to him, Slovakia is prepared to help Spain with police forces and equipment to protect its external borders.

The prime minister reiterated that the most effective way to prevent illegal migration is rigorous protection of the Schengen external borders. He also criticized the hypocritical approach of several EU member states and EU officials, arguing that their lax stance years ago allowed the mass influx of illegal migrants into Europe.

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Behind the Crisis: Casualties, Returns and Rumors

According to the Spanish Interior Ministry, most of those who crossed into Ceuta have since made their way back to Morocco, something that has not been proved yet by any other source and has not eased tensions over the crisis. The bodies of 57 victims were found on the Spanish side of the border. According to authorities, some drowned, while others died attempting to climb over the breakwater, which forms part of the border fortifications. Additional victims on the Moroccan side cannot be ruled out.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the mass arrival of migrants as a violation of the country's territorial sovereignty and announced that the return of people who entered the country illegally would be expedited. Meanwhile, France has pledged to strengthen its police presence along the border with Spain as well as its aerial surveillance.

According to the Spanish government, false information spread on social media contributed to the mass migration. Reuters reports that many migrants believed that, following a recent ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court, they would be allowed to remain in the country upon arrival in Ceuta. Madrid emphasized that while the ruling suspended the immediate return of migrants arriving by sea, it still allows for their return through legal channels.

(reuters, bak)