EU to hold emergency talks after Ceuta migrant surge sparks divisions over border controls

European Union leaders will hold emergency talks on Tuesday after the arrival of around 60,000 migrants in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta triggered diplomatic tensions among member states and renewed debate over border security and the Schengen free-travel area.

The meeting was called after the 30 July surge of migrants crossing into Ceuta from Morocco prompted 22 member states to urge coordinated EU action to strengthen the bloc's external borders and address what they described as "hybrid threats" that risk encouraging further irregular migration, says the BBC.

The letter, signed by countries including the Netherlands, Finland and Belgium, was addressed to European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The talks are expected to focus on improving coordination among member states, reinforcing the EU's external borders and addressing divisions that have emerged over the Schengen border-free system.

Italy has suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain for one month, a move backed by Finland and Denmark. Denmark has also called for consideration of a broader suspension of Schengen cooperation, while France and Portugal are considering introducing border checks.

Von der Leyen described the situation as "unacceptable," saying the EU could not allow people to enter without complying with established rules.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended his government's response, saying border control had been restored and unauthorised movement into mainland Europe had been prevented within 48 hours.

He criticised the reaction from some member states as "selfish, polarising and unlawful," adding that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen area and attributing criticism from other governments to "prejudice, fake news, [or] ignorance".

The influx marked one of the largest recorded movements of migrants into Ceuta, one of Spain's two enclaves in North Africa alongside Melilla and the European Union's only land borders with Africa.

Spanish officials said almost all of the migrants who entered Ceuta have since returned to Morocco and businesses in the enclave have reopened. Spain is also developing an inflatable barrier aimed at preventing future illegal sea crossings.

Sánchez blamed the surge on migrant traffickers exploiting a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that limited the government's ability to immediately deport people arriving by sea.

The crisis has also highlighted Spain's diplomatic relationship with Morocco, which remains central to migration management along the EU's southern border. Authorities say Ceuta and Melilla continue to be frequent targets for organised migration attempts, often coordinated through social media during the summer months.