MADRID (Reuters) - Spain has condemned the “selfish, polarizing and unlawful” reaction of some EU countries to the influx of about 60,000 migrants from Morocco to Ceuta.
Officials say almost all those who reached the enclave on 30 July have returned, while Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said on Saturday that the death toll had risen to at least 67.
It comes after Italy temporarily suspended the EU’s border-free Schengen arrangement with Spain, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the scenes “shocking”.
Finland and Denmark backed Italy’s move, while Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš urged a temporary suspension of Spain’s Schengen membership.
In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he had “serious concerns” about some European governments.
He said the Spanish government had fully restored control over the border and prevented any “unauthorized onward movement towards continental Europe” in less than 48 hours.
While most had shown “support and solidarity”, Sanchez said other European governments had chosen to attack Spain, “driven by prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest”, and pointed out that Ceuta was not part of the Schengen area.
“The European Union cannot afford this kind of selfish, polarizing and unlawful reaction,” he said.
The Spanish leader called for an urgent meeting with EU interior ministers to “reaffirm that the security of our external borders is a shared responsibility of all Member States”.
Meanwhile, 22 of the EU’s 27 countries also called for emergency talks in an open letter, citing “serious concerns” regarding the developments in Ceuta.
The nations “welcome that Spain and Morocco are cooperating closely to ensure the swift return of migrants”, but said a video conference of EU interior ministers would help reach agreement on mobilizing EU instruments and support for Spain to restore “effective control” of the border and prevent further uncontrolled crossings.
Also on Saturday, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he had spoken to Sánchez and the UK was “providing what help we can”.
There were chaotic scenes on Thursday in Ceuta as border controls in the North African enclave apparently broke down.
In a news conference on Saturday, Grande-Marlaska told reporters the situation in Ceuta had almost returned to normal.
“Almost all of the migrants have already left Ceuta,” the minister said, adding that businesses had now reopened. “The situation has been almost entirely reversed.”
But while the situation on the ground appears to be easing, political and diplomatic fallout is rippling through Madrid and other capitals.
On Thursday, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on social media that such “uncontrolled immigration” was a threat to national security, before suspending the Schengen zone agreement with Spain for a month.
The Schengen Area is a system of open borders spanning 29 European countries that have abolished controls at their common borders.
Spain responded by summoning the Italian ambassador to Madrid, while its foreign minister said he expected “European solidarity and not partisan demagoguery”.
Finland’s Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said she had started preparations for restoring internal border checks “if the need arises”. She also urged “all European countries” to support Meloni’s move.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also urged the EU to “consider all options, including a suspension of Schengen co-operation”.