EU ministers set to meet over migrant crossings in Ceuta

Lead

The European Union is holding an emergency video conference of national ministers on Tuesday to address the mass migrant crossings into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta, following one of the deadliest and largest surges of its kind. Ireland, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, convened the meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, with Irish Minister Jim O'Callaghan set to chair the session. The death toll from the surge has reached at least 72, according to officials, with thousands more having crossed into the territory by land and sea.

Coverage comparison

Reports of the emergency meeting and the scale of the crisis vary across outlets. Al Jazeera reported that about 60,000 migrants entered Ceuta over a few days, citing Ceuta's top official Juan Jesus Vivas, while Spain's Interior Ministry put the figure at 50,000. AllAfrica and RFI reported that more than 50,000 people crossed by land and sea, and that more than 48,000 returned to Morocco within 48 hours. TASS reported the EU videoconference for August 4, citing a source in EU institutions, and noted that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen supported the initiative. AllAfrica and RFI also reported that Italy suspended passport-free Schengen travel arrangements with Spain for one month, a measure echoing broader concerns about border checks across Europe.

All four outlets converge on the core facts: the emergency meeting, the significant death toll, and the mass crossings. They differ on the total number of arrivals, with Al Jazeera offering a range of 60,000 (per Vivas) and 50,000 (per Spain's Interior Ministry), while others settle on "more than 50,000." The causal factors behind the surge remain unclear in most reports, though Al Jazeera raised the possibility of Moroccan orchestration and potential involvement of the US and Israel, claims that are not echoed elsewhere.

Key claims

• The EU will hold an emergency video conference meeting of national ministers on Tuesday to discuss the migrant crossings into Ceuta. This is reported by Al Jazeera, AllAfrica, and RFI, and by TASS, which specifies the videoconference of interior ministers on August 4.
• At least 72 people died while trying to reach the enclave, as reported by all four outlets. Ceuta's mayor-president Juan Jesus Vivas told El Pais that the city's morgue received 88 corpses, including some from earlier attempts, but no official confirmation was available.
• More than 50,000 people crossed into Ceuta by land and sea, according to AllAfrica and RFI. Al Jazeera cites a higher estimate of 60,000 from Vivas and 50,000 from Spain's Interior Ministry.
• More than 48,000 people returned to Morocco within 48 hours, as reported by AllAfrica and RFI.
• Italy suspended passport-free Schengen travel with Spain for one month, reported by AllAfrica and RFI.
• Spain's government representative in Ceuta, Miguel Angel Perez, said more than 1,000 people had been treated by health services since Thursday. Reported by AllAfrica and RFI.
• Authorities reinforced police and army patrols and installed a 500-metre floating barrier off Ceuta on Saturday, as reported by AllAfrica and RFI. Al Jazeera also reported Spain installing a floating barrier.
• Twenty-two EU member states wrote a letter asking for coordinated action to protect external borders, according to AllAfrica and RFI (though the text cuts off before details).

Perspectives

Spanish and local authorities: Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said by Saturday "almost all" migrants had left and the situation had practically returned to normal, as quoted by Al Jazeera. Miguel Angel Perez added that the situation had "improved markedly" but more remained to be done. Ceuta's mayor-president Juan Jesus Vivas provided casualty figures and contrasted the influx with a smaller event in May 2021.

European Union institutions: Ireland, as rotating presidency, convened the emergency meeting and Jim O'Callaghan will chair it, according to AllAfrica and RFI. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen supported the initiative, as reported by TASS.

Other member states: Italy suspended passport-free Schengen travel with Spain for one month, indicating unilateral moves amid the crisis, reported by AllAfrica and RFI. Twenty-two member states wrote a letter calling for coordinated action on external borders.

Potential external actors: Al Jazeera raised the possibility that Morocco may have orchestrated the crisis and that the US and Israel could be involved, though these claims are not reported elsewhere.