The European Union has praised Spain’s “swift response” to the migrant crisis in Ceuta, following a meeting of the bloc’s interior ministers on Tuesday.
Around 72,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish territory in North Africa between 30 and 31 July, Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said. He added that an estimated 70,000 have since been returned to Morocco.
At least 75 people died on the Spanish side of the border, while 11 deaths were reported in Morocco.
Tuesday’s meeting was called after several EU members expressed concern over Spain’s handling of the crisis, with Italy describing images from Ceuta as “shocking” and suspending its Schengen agreement with Spain.
Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, who chaired Tuesday’s meeting, said the EU stood in solidarity with Spain and that migration required “a united European response”.
The meeting had been expected to draw some tension, following earlier criticism of Spain from some EU nations.
On Thursday, Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said such “uncontrolled immigration” was a security threat to Europe.
Italy suspended its Schengen zone agreement with Spain on free movement on Friday, but since the two countries do not share a land border, this would only apply, effectively, to flights – which appears simply to mean extra checks for passengers.
The Schengen agreement eliminates border checks and now encompasses more than 450 million people and 29 countries in Europe.
