European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner has commended Morocco’s cooperation which facilitated the return of most of the people who entered Ceuta illegally within a matter of hours after the mass crossing end of July 2026.
In an address made Tuesday during the European Parliament Plenary debate on the situation in Ceuta, Mr. Brunner hailed the action taken by the Spanish authorities and cooperation of Morocco.
He also told European lawmakers that “all those who entered and remain illegally in Ceuta must swiftly return to Morocco”, noting that Rabat has made the commitment to take back all migrants that arrived illegally to Ceuta.
However, there are still many challenges, he added, saying that urgent solution must found to the thousands of migrants remaining in Ceuta, including more than 2,000 unaccompanied minors.
After highlighting the EU migration diplomacy and strategy, Mr. Brunner said the European Union is committed to continue working with Morocco on returns of those remaining in Ceuta and on the fight against illegal migration and people smugglers.
Morocco has voiced readiness to cooperate with Spain and EU partners to identify and repatriate unaccompanied minors, but Madrid is still dragging its feet citing legal, administrative, and political hurdles.
The European Parliament discussed on Tuesday the Ceuta migration situation, six weeks after mass crossing into the enclave. The debate triggered a clash between the right-wing and left-wing European and Spanish groups on migrants with the rise of populism and radical groups across Europe.
After the heated debate, members of the European Parliament will vote Thursday on a proposed resolution related to the Ceuta crisis.
