Between two shores: how Ceuta became the center of the migration crisis

On Thursday, July 30, the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta faced a large-scale influx of illegal migrants. According to the newspaper El Confidencial, with reference to the local civil guard, about 40 thousand people crossed the border from Morocco. The flow of migrants did not stop and continued throughout the night, forcing the Spanish authorities to take emergency measures to strengthen border controls. For more information about the reasons for the incident and the reaction of the authorities, see the Izvestia article.

What happened in Ceuta

On July 30, the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta, located on the border with Morocco, faced the largest influx of illegal migrants in recent years. Hundreds of people were simultaneously trying to enter the enclave by land and sea, which forced the local authorities to declare a state of emergency and seek help from the Spanish government.

According to Reuters, migrants crossed the border by swimming, using inflatable circles and other improvised means, and also broke through border barriers and checkpoints. Against the background of a sharp deterioration in the situation, some local entrepreneurs closed their shops, fearing possible riots.

According to the newspaper El País, the scale of the migration crisis has exceeded the forecasts of the Spanish authorities. Over the past 10 days, from 1.5 thousand to 2 thousand illegal migrants have entered Ceuta, but it was only on July 30 that the flow of people increased sharply. The newspaper also reports that at least 18 people were killed while trying to cross the border.

In response to the escalating situation, Madrid sent additional security forces to Ceuta. 200 police officers and 60 military personnel arrived from the Spanish mainland, tasked with strengthening border security and taking control of the most tense areas.

According to Reuters estimates, taking into account the latest cases, the death toll in attempts to enter the Spanish enclave has reached 60 people in recent months. The tragedy once again drew attention to the humanitarian consequences of the migration crisis on the Western Mediterranean route.

How did the Spanish and European authorities react to the crisis

After an attempt by migrants to break through the Beni Enzar border checkpoint, the Spanish government closed the border in another North African enclave, Melilla. In addition, to enhance security, it was decided to deploy ground forces units stationed in Ceuta, which will provide support to Civil Guard personnel.

The mayor of Ceuta, Juan Jesus Vivas, called the incident an "absolute humanitarian and social catastrophe" and called on Madrid to declare a national emergency. According to him, about 300 migrants arrive in the city every day, and in just the last week about 1.5 thousand people crossed the border, which is equivalent to almost 2% of the population of Ceuta. At the same time, at least 700 arrivals are minors, and the temporary accommodation centers, designed for 500 people, are already overcrowded.

However, the central government refused to introduce a state of emergency. According to El País, Madrid explained that the current legislation on civil protection does not include migration crises among the grounds for the introduction of such a status.

The situation escalated shortly after the decision of the Spanish Supreme Court, which ruled that migrants who reached the Spanish enclaves by sea should not be automatically returned to Morocco without conducting an individual legal procedure. This decision significantly limited the authorities' ability to promptly expel illegal migrants.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlasca arrived in Ceuta on July 31 to assess the situation. Their visit took place against the backdrop of the ongoing migration crisis and calls from local authorities to strengthen border controls.

The events in Ceuta caused a reaction outside of Spain. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Rome "will not stand aside" from what is happening. According to her, after consultations with Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, the Italian government is ready to consider emergency measures to protect national borders, including the possibility of temporarily suspending the Schengen Agreement in relation to Spain.

What the Moroccan authorities say

Amid the worsening migration crisis in Ceuta, the Moroccan authorities rejected accusations of inaction. According to the Europa Press agency, citing diplomatic sources at the Moroccan Embassy in Madrid, Rabat blames criminal networks involved in the illegal smuggling of migrants for organizing the mass movement of people.

The Moroccan diplomatic mission also stressed that cooperation with Spain in the field of migration policy remains effective and continues as normal.

However, this assessment is not shared by everyone. Representatives of Spanish police unions claim that the Moroccan authorities are not taking sufficient measures to prevent illegal border crossings. In their opinion, it was the lack of effective control that allowed migrants to enter Ceuta en masse, both by sea and by land.

What measures have Spain and Morocco taken?

Spain and Morocco have agreed to speed up the procedure for the return of migrants who illegally crossed the border and arrived in Ceuta. This was reported by the Spanish Interior Ministry.

The Ministry stressed that cooperation between the two countries in the field of migration policy remains effective. According to the Ministry, the current surge in illegal migration is largely caused by the activities of criminal networks involved in human trafficking. Madrid also thanked Rabat for the actions of the security forces who have been trying to prevent new illegal border crossings in recent days.

According to the Moroccan Hespress portal, citing sources, the Spanish authorities have already begun preparations for the mass return of illegal migrants. The operation will be carried out in coordination with the competent Moroccan authorities and will affect all foreigners who have illegally entered Ceuta, including minors.

Thus, Madrid expects to reduce the migration burden on the enclave as soon as possible and restore control over the situation on the border.

Why has the crisis caused tension in Europe

The migration crisis in Ceuta has provoked a diplomatic dispute between Spain and Italy. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani supported the position of the Italian Prime Minister on the suspension of Schengen in the event of a deterioration of the situation on the Spanish-Moroccan border. According to him, the uncontrolled flow of illegal migrants through Ceuta poses a threat not only to Spain, but also to the security of the entire European Union, since after entering the country, migrants are able to move freely through the Schengen area.

The statements of the Italian side provoked a sharp reaction from Madrid. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said he had summoned the Italian Ambassador for clarification after Tajani's statements, stressing that migration policy issues should be resolved through dialogue between European partners.

Why Ceuta remains one of the main points of the migration crisis

Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain on the northern coast of Africa and one of the two land sections of the border between the European Union and Morocco. Due to its geographical location, the enclave has remained one of the key routes of illegal migration to Europe for many years.

Ceuta is separated from the Moroccan coast by less than 50 km through the Strait of Gibraltar. In clear weather, the Spanish coast is clearly visible from the territory of Morocco, which often gives migrants the idea that it is relatively easy to get to the European Union. However, such attempts regularly lead to tragedies.

The current crisis has become the largest in recent years, but similar situations have already occurred before. In May 2021, against the background of a sharp deterioration in relations between Madrid and Rabat, about 10 thousand illegal migrants entered Ceuta in just a few days.

The reason for the diplomatic conflict was Spain's decision to accept Brahim Ghali, the leader of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and Secretary General of the Frente POLISARIO, for medical treatment. Morocco regarded this step as unfriendly, after which the migration pressure on the Spanish enclave increased dramatically.

The fight against illegal migration remains one of the key policy directions of the current Italian government, which considers what is happening in Ceuta as a security challenge not only for Spain, but also for the entire European Union.