EU Ministers discuss recent developments in Ceuta

On 4 August 2026, EU home affairs ministers discussed at an informal video conference recent developments in Ceuta and reaffirmed their strong support for Spain. Ministers praised the Spanish authorities for their rapid and effective response to the situation.

Participants noted that most people who had entered Ceuta irregularly had already been returned, with no significant onward movement to mainland Spain or other EU countries. There was broad agreement on the need to strengthen the protection of the EU’s external borders and improve migration management.

Ministers emphasised continued action against migrant smuggling networks, stronger return policies, enhanced border controls, closer cooperation with third countries, and improved forecasting of migration pressures. They also highlighted the importance of better situational awareness through early-warning mechanisms, including pre-frontier intelligence and social media monitoring.