Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has sent a sharply worded letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, criticising what he sees as a failure of European solidarity during the Ceuta border crisis. The letter, dispatched on Saturday and reviewed by Euronews, accuses some EU partners of responding with "prejudice, misinformation and attacks" driven by domestic political calculations.
The crisis erupted last Thursday when around 50,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta after border controls collapsed. Sánchez has described the mass entry as an "attack" and a "violation of Spain's territorial integrity." In his letter, he notes that while many member states offered support, others chose a different path.
"Most have shown us their support and solidarity, and have offered their assistance," Sánchez writes. "Others, however, have chosen to attack Spain and to call for its temporary exclusion from the Schengen Area." This appears to be a direct reference to Italy's right-wing government under Giorgia Meloni, which announced on Friday that it would suspend freedom of movement with Spain, even as many migrants were already returning to Morocco. The practical implications of that move remain unclear.
Sánchez also pushed back against the broader criticism, arguing that Spain maintains one of the EU's most effective external borders. Citing Frontex data, he insists that the country's border controls are among the least porous in the bloc. "In the current international context, the European Union cannot afford this kind of selfish, polarising and unlawful reaction," he adds.
Madrid defends its record
The Spanish government has faced scrutiny from conservative and right-wing leaders over its plan to regularise the status of 500,000 undocumented migrants already living in Spain. Madrid argues that these individuals are integrated into the economy and deserve social rights. The European right has condemned the move as reckless, warning it could encourage further irregular arrivals.
Spanish officials, however, insist that the regularisation scheme is unrelated to the Ceuta incident. They frame the enclave events as a deliberate challenge to Spain's sovereignty, not a migration crisis. In his letter, Sánchez defends the government's response, noting that border control was restored within 48 hours, humanitarian aid was provided, and nearly all those who entered irregularly have been returned. On Friday, the EU confirmed that no unauthorised crossings from Ceuta into mainland Spain had been recorded.
Sánchez stresses that these measures were implemented in coordination with Moroccan authorities, with only limited assistance from other European countries. The EU has offered additional Frontex support, but Madrid has not requested it. The prime minister also reminds von der Leyen of Spain's solidarity during past crises, including the 2021 Belarus border incident and the 2023 migrant surge on Lampedusa.
The trigger for Thursday's mass crossing remains unclear. Rabat denies any deliberate instrumentalisation of migration, though similar incidents have occurred during diplomatic tensions between Spain and Morocco. The EU has praised Morocco's cooperation in managing migration flows, while Spain says it agreed with Rabat to accelerate returns. Footage from Ceuta showed many young Moroccans returning voluntarily on foot, as the city was placed under lockdown and the Spanish army patrolled the streets.
Sánchez has formally requested an urgent video conference of EU interior ministers, to be convened by the European Council. He argues that protecting the EU's external borders is a shared responsibility, not just a burden for frontline states in the south. He concludes his letter by calling on von der Leyen to show leadership and ensure the EU responds "swiftly, effectively and in a coordinated manner."
The episode has reignited debates about EU solidarity on migration and the legal feasibility of suspending a member state from Schengen. As Ceuta returns to a semblance of normality, the political fallout is likely to persist, with Sánchez seeking to frame the crisis as a test of European unity.
