European Union interior ministers are set to meet by video conference on Tuesday, August 4, to discuss the mass arrival of migrants at Ceuta, the Spanish enclave that saw close to 60,000 Moroccans cross into it within a matter of days.
Spain, along with a group of 22 EU states including Italy, Germany and Denmark, called for the meeting. In an open letter, representatives of those 22 countries wrote that massive and uncontrolled border crossings, the instrumentalisation of migration, or other hybrid threats must not create the impression that illegal entry into the European Union is possible, or that such entry could later become a legal stay. They said the events of recent days demanded an immediate and coordinated European response.
The letter was initiated by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has temporarily suspended Schengen rules toward Spain, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who on July 31 said the EU should consider suspending Schengen cooperation with Madrid.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the stance as contrary to the long-term interests of European countries. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said on Saturday that Spain leaving the Schengen zone was absolutely out of the question, stressing what he called very good cooperation with Madrid.
