Interior ministers from the European Union are holding talks on Tuesday in an effort to draw early lessons from the large influx of migrants into Ceuta, a Spanish-administered autonomous city located in northern Morocco.

The arrivals exposed weaknesses in European cooperation on migration issues, according to Western assessments, highlighting ongoing divisions among EU members over how to manage irregular migration.

The crisis intensified after images showed migrants crossing the Spanish-Moroccan border irregularly, either by walking or swimming. Several countries, including Italy and Denmark, called for a stricter approach, arguing that uncontrolled migration poses a threat to Europe.

The two countries also demanded that Spain be excluded from the Schengen Area, the European zone of free movement. However, the proposal was considered legally impossible under EU regulations and triggered strong criticism from Madrid.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, whose government supports a more open approach to migration, responded by sending a letter to the heads of European institutions. He criticized what he described as the "selfish" position of countries calling for Spain’s exclusion from Schengen and requested an emergency meeting of EU leaders.

Divisions Among Member States

Hours later, a joint statement from 22 EU countries, led by Italy, Denmark, Germany, and Hungary, called for an emergency video conference, but with a different objective: maintaining a tougher stance on migration.

France did not join the initiative, arguing that it exploited the situation in Ceuta. Paris also stressed that the vast majority of migrants who crossed the border had been returned to Morocco.

In an attempt to find common ground, EU interior ministers are expected to hold discussions via video conference on Tuesday.

During a meeting of EU ambassadors on Monday, Spain expressed frustration over what it described as a lack of solidarity from some member states, according to a diplomatic source.

Meanwhile, some EU countries questioned the message sent by Madrid, arguing that certain recent Spanish measures may have created the impression that the country’s borders were more open.

Seeking Lessons and a Common Response

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the planned talks, describing them as an opportunity to draw lessons and develop a common European response focused on strengthening border protection.

On Monday, von der Leyen called on the bloc to intensify efforts in five areas: preventing irregular migration through cooperation with partner countries, strengthening external borders, improving early warning systems, dismantling smuggling networks, and increasing returns of rejected asylum seekers.

In recent months, the European Union has significantly tightened its migration rules, including allowing member states to send rejected asylum seekers to centers outside EU territory, known as "return centers."