At a joint press conference in Madrid, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed strong solidarity with Spain over the recent migration surge in Ceuta, while both leaders urged the European Union to adopt a more unified stance on migration, economic policy, and geopolitical challenges. The meeting, held at the Moncloa Palace, was overshadowed by the Spanish Senate's rejection of the bilateral Friendship Treaty, a setback that prompted Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to offer a personal apology to Macron.
“All I can do is apologise,” Sánchez said, referring to Tuesday's vote in the upper house. He insisted that the treaty, signed in Barcelona in January 2023, would be brought back for approval before the end of the current term, reaffirming the “sense of brotherhood” between the two nations. The treaty had already passed the lower house and been ratified by France, but the Senate voted it down with 142 votes against from the conservative People's Party (PP) and far-right Vox, versus 106 in favour and one abstention.
The rejection came just six days after Spain's Constitutional Court unanimously ruled the text compatible with the constitution. A key sticking point is a clause allowing a French government member to attend Spanish cabinet meetings and vice versa. Madrid and Paris exchanged letters clarifying that such participation would not occur during regular Council of Ministers sessions, but the PP maintained its objections. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares accused the PP of “sabotaging” the agreement, while the conservatives insisted their stance does not question France's strategic importance as a neighbour and ally.
Ceuta crisis and bilateral cooperation
Sánchez thanked Macron for France's “solidarity” during the “difficult days” of the Ceuta migration crisis, highlighting joint efforts in various emergencies. “Together we have fought a thousand and one battles in a Europe that has faced multiple crises,” he said, citing collaboration on the EU's Next Generation recovery funds and last summer's wildfires. Macron echoed the sentiment, recalling that the two peoples have “always fought side by side” and stressing close cooperation in economy, defence, and energy interconnection.
On the Ceuta incident, Sánchez responded to testimony given by the city's president, Juan Jesús Vivas, before the National Court. Sánchez said there had been constant communication with Vivas and his government ahead of the mass arrivals. “There was not one or two, but many exchanges,” he said, adding that no one, including local authorities, could have foreseen the scale of the influx on 30 and 31 July. He declined to give a date for a possible royal visit to Ceuta, saying an official announcement would be made in due course.
Macron described Spain as “the victim of a multiple attack” and expressed surprise at the lack of solidarity from some European countries, a thinly veiled reference to Italy and Giorgia Meloni's government. He called for a balance between solidarity and responsibility in the EU's migration and asylum pact, advocating “robust solutions” to protect borders while respecting EU law and values.
Both leaders also urged greater ambition for Europe. Sánchez called for a “far more ambitious” EU budget, while Macron stressed the importance of the bloc's finances in meeting future challenges. On trade with China, Macron warned, “If we are not united as Europeans, we have no chance of succeeding.” Sánchez pushed for deeper cooperation on security, more transparency around algorithms, and stricter controls on fake social media accounts to shield member states from foreign interference in elections.
The press conference underscored the resilience of the Franco-Spanish partnership despite domestic political hurdles. As Sánchez noted, the two countries have a “very strong bond” in defending the European project, a bond that both leaders are keen to preserve and strengthen.
