70,000 of 72,000 Illegal Entrants to Ceuta Returned to Morocco; EU Praises Madrid's Swift Response

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said the influx occurred between 30 and 31 July, with at least 75 deaths on the Spanish side and 11 in Morocco. The bloc's interior ministers met Tuesday after Italy suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain, calling the images "shocking. Irish Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan, chairing the meeting, voiced EU solidarity and called for a "united European response.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had labeled the arrivals a security threat, with Finland and Denmark backing Rome and Czech PM Andrej Babiš urging a temporary Schengen suspension for Spain. Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez accused some governments of attacking his country "driven by prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest, noting Ceuta is not part of the Schengen area. Grande-Marlaska said the zone was not compromised and hoped Italy would lift added controls soon. EU commissioner Magnus Brunner called the episode a "test" of resilience that Europe "passed, offering emergency financial aid.