This morning, a crowd broke into the beaches of Ceuta. Hundreds, and according to some accounts, even a few thousand people sailed or passed from Morocco. Local authorities talk about chaos and call on Madrid to react immediately.
Why now?
Hiszpania ma z Marokiem wspólną granicę lądową – jedyną taką między Unią Europejską a Afryką. Gdy kontrola po stronie marokańskiej słabnie albo gdy pojawia się luka prawna, presja rośnie błyskawicznie. Ostatnie orzeczenie hiszpańskiego Sądu Najwyższego utrudniło szybkie zawracanie osób przechwyconych na morzu. Efekt widać gołym okiem.
It's not a local problem, Ceuta. It is a test of the external border of the whole Union. If small territory cannot withstand pressure, the rest of Europe will feel it too – through secondary migrations, overloaded systems and erosion of citizens' confidence.
Migration Pact and Return Regulation – tools to be used
The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum has been in force since 12 June 2026. It assumes mandatory screening at borders, faster procedures and a solidarity mechanism. It's a step in the right direction. However, the pact itself is not enough if the return system does not work.
That is why it is so important to regulate return, which the European Parliament adopted in June. Finally, it is intended to make the expulsion decision not a paper document. It foresees, among other things, longer possibilities for detection, mutual recognition of return decisions and the possibility to create return hubs in third countries. Without effective return, each border breaks sooner or later.
The Group of the European People's Party has long reiterated: the external borders must be protected, and those without a right of residence must be returned. Empty declarations do not stop boats or fill out centres. Concrete actions are needed.
What should happen immediately
Hiszpania musi odzyskać kontrolę nad Ceutą. Oznacza to:
- strengthening forces on site,
- close cooperation with Morocco,
- rapid identification procedures and, where possible, return.
The European Commission should monitor the situation and support Member States with the tools it has negotiated. You can't wait for another wave to make you improvise.
At the forthcoming plenary session, the EPP Group intends to demand clear answers. Who is responsible for protecting the external border? How quickly do states implement new legislation? What about real return?
