France rules out Spain leaving Schengen amid Ceuta crisis

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has ruled out any prospect of Spain leaving the Schengen Area, as European officials respond to a surge in migrant arrivals in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

“This is absolutely not being considered,” Nunez said at a briefing in Paris, according to Le Parisien.

He added that France continues to maintain productive cooperation with Spain in addressing migration challenges.

The comments come after a sharp increase in arrivals on July 30, when thousands of migrants reached Ceuta by swimming or on foot, bypassing the breakwater separating the enclave from Morocco.

Estimates of the influx vary. Local authorities said around 60,000 migrants entered the city, while Spain’s Interior Ministry reported approximately 50,000 arrivals. EFE, citing security sources, said that about 69,500 migrants have returned to Morocco in the past 30 hours.

The figure may include individuals who arrived before the July 30 surge, as well as those who crossed the border multiple times on July 31.

At least 67 people died while attempting to reach Ceuta, underscoring the risks associated with the crossing and the scale of the ongoing migration pressure on the enclave.

By Tamilla Hasanova