European leaders called for tougher action on migration on Friday after tens of thousands of migrants entered Spain's North African territory of Ceuta irregularly from Morocco this week.
At least 34 people died trying to reach the exclave, according to Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas, as the mass arrivals triggered a political row over the security of the European Union's external border and drew sharp criticism of the government in Madrid.
Vivas said around 60,000 migrants had entered the territory in recent days, according to several Spanish media reports. Spain's Interior Ministry had previously estimated the figure at nearly 50,000.
Spanish left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the irregular migrant arrivals as an "attack" and a "violation of Spain's territorial integrity" during a visit to Ceuta on Friday, where he pledged the country's full support to the territory's nearly 85,000 residents.
"The whole of Spain stands by your side. We take responsibility for this situation," Sánchez said.
He announced further measures to strengthen security along the border with Morocco, including the installation of floating buoys to prevent migrants from swimming to Ceuta. Sánchez also promised fast-tracked procedures to facilitate the return of migrants who entered Spain irregularly.
"Many migrants are already leaving," he said, adding that Spain was cooperating with Morocco.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for swift deportations under EU law, calling the images coming out of Ceuta "unacceptable."
"We cannot allow anyone to come to our Union without abiding by our rules," she wrote on X, adding that EU commissioners were in contact with the Spanish and Moroccan authorities.
There was outrage in Rome, too. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggested Spain could face suspension from Europe's Schengen free-travel area if it fails to regain control of the situation.
"The images coming from Ceuta are shocking and demonstrate, once again, that uncontrolled illegal immigration poses a concrete threat to the security of Europe's borders," she wrote.
She said her right-wing government was convening the relevant authorities and was prepared to take "extraordinary measures" to protect borders and public security, including "the suspension of the Schengen area with Spain."
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Spain to quickly regain control of the situation. "The protection of the European Union's external borders is crucial for combating illegal migration," the conservative chancellor said.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on X that Spain must "swiftly" regain control of the situation and meet its obligations under the Schengen system. He said Sweden stood ready to take "measures required to safeguard order and control."
Finnish Interior Minister Mari Rantanen also denounced Madrid, saying Spain had failed to protect the Schengen area's external border. EU member states should support Meloni's proposal, she wrote on X, adding that countries unable to secure their borders should not remain members of the Schengen area.
France said it was tightening controls along its border with mainland Spain. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said he had ordered reinforced border checks and was deploying a rapid-response border security unit.
Most migrants arrived on Wednesday and Thursday by swimming around border barriers, while others climbed the border fence. Among the arrivals are many women and children.
The influx prompted Spain to deploy the military to help secure Ceuta's border with Morocco for the first time since May 2021, when more than 8,000 people crossed into the territory within 36 hours.
Although more people crossed into the territory on Friday morning, many also returned to Morocco, helping to ease the situation, according to Spanish state broadcaster RTVE.
Ceuta is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea and Morocco. Together with nearby Melilla, it is one of Spain's two territories in North Africa. Although Morocco gained independence from France and Spain in 1956, it continues to claim sovereignty over both territories.
Thousands of migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, regularly gather near the exclaves in the hope of entering the European Union.