Brunner Points to Traffickers and Disinformation, Declines to Elaborate on Morocco's Role

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told EU counterparts in Brussels that Morocco bore no responsibility for the migration crisis that saw over 70,000 people cross into Ceuta, attributing the surge to illegal mafias, disinformation, and dangerous social media use. EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner relayed Marlaska's remarks, saying the minister repeated the important role Morocco played in keeping the situation under control. Brunner pointed to traffickers and online disinformation but declined to elaborate on Morocco's role, noting an ongoing investigation.

His comments contrasted with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's letter to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, which more clearly implicated Morocco, and with a letter from over 20 countries to the Commission. Marlaska also insisted the Schengen area was never compromised, with Brunner confirming no one reached mainland Spain. Brunner distanced the government's mass regularization from the crisis, saying no direct link was seen, though he called it "not a good signal" for Europe.