Berlin urges EU to strengthen border protection after Ceuta migrant influx

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has called on the European Commission to prioritize the protection of the European Union's external borders following the recent influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Bild reports.

According to Wadephul, European countries need external partners, such as Morocco, to effectively manage irregular migration.

Bild noted that although European states have so far avoided a major migration crisis, the situation remains tense.

Wadephul’s remarks came after a sudden mass crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. 

Spanish authorities estimated that around 50,000–60,000 people, mostly young Moroccan men, entered over roughly two days starting around 30–31 July 2026 by swimming around a breakwater or using makeshift flotation devices, overwhelming the city of about 84,000 residents and resulting in at least 67 deaths.

Most had returned to Morocco within about 24–48 hours under bilateral arrangements, with Spanish officials declaring the situation largely reversed by 1–2 August, though a few hundred holdouts remained.

By Jeyhun Aghazada