On the recent hybrid attacks and instrumentalisation of migrants in Ceuta and the need for a coordinated response to protect the EU’s external borders

on behalf of the ESN Group · Rapporteur: Mary Khan, Milan Uhrík, Christine Anderson

✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 18 Sept 2026

Parliament's resolution condemns the mass crossings into Ceuta on 30 and 31 July 2026 as a hybrid attack on Spain and the EU's external border through the instrumentalisation of migrants.¶ It blames Spain's mass regularisation of illegal migrants for creating pull factors, deplores the Spanish Government's failure to act on warnings and its false statements, and calls for a parliamentary inquiry.¶¶ It demands that people in mass illegal crossings be stopped at the external border, that those who entered illegally be returned or removed swiftly, and that asylum claims from such operations be rejected.¶¶ It calls for an investigation into Moroccan security personnel's involvement, an audit of EU funding for Moroccan border management, and suspension of further funding until Morocco's role is clarified.¶¶ It rejects the Commission's praise of Morocco and its focus on online platforms, and rejects using the crisis to expand online surveillance or fact-checking.¶¶ It calls for EU support to reinforce physical border infrastructure and detention and return capacity in Spain and Ceuta, reaffirms Ceuta and Melilla as Spanish and EU external borders, and urges a LIBE Committee vote on the Facilitation Directive.¶¶¶

Key points

Condemns the events of 30 and 31 July 2026 as a hybrid attack against Spain and the EU's external border through the deliberate instrumentalisation of migrants.¶
Expresses solidarity with Ceuta's residents, commends Spanish security forces, rescue workers and medical personnel, and offers condolences to families of those who lost their lives.¶
Condemns the mass regularisation of illegal migrants by Prime Minister Sánchez as undermining deterrence and creating pull factors affecting the whole EU and the Schengen area.¶
Deplores the Spanish Government's failure to act on warnings and its materially false statements on people remaining in Ceuta and onward movement, and calls for a parliamentary inquiry and full political accountability.¶
Stresses that instrumentalisation cannot create a right of entry, calls for a 100 % return objective for people without a legal right to remain, and insists illegal entry must not lead to residence, regularisation, relocation or onward movement.¶
Calls for asylum claims arising from a deliberate instrumentalisation operation to be rejected without delay at the external border or, where possible, outside EU territory.¶
Calls for a full investigation into the chain of command over Moroccan security personnel's involvement and demands Morocco's complete cooperation.¶
Rejects the Commission's premature praise of Morocco and its focus on online platforms, and warns that real-time fact-checking may suppress lawful reporting and eyewitness evidence.¶
Recalls that Article 8 of the Digital Services Act prohibits a general monitoring obligation and rejects using the crisis to expand online surveillance, fact-checking or censorship of lawful content.¶
Calls for EU support to Spain, particularly Ceuta, to reinforce physical border infrastructure such as fences and concrete walls and to strengthen detention and return capabilities.¶
Calls for an audit of all EU funding for Moroccan border management, suspension of additional funding until Morocco's role is clarified, and targeted diplomatic and financial measures if Moroccan public authorities were involved.¶
Reaffirms Ceuta and Melilla as integral parts of Spain and EU external borders, rejects Moroccan territorial claims, and calls for a LIBE Committee vote on the Facilitation Directive without undue delay.¶¶

Who is affected

Spain and its Government, which faces calls for a parliamentary inquiry, accountability and EU support for border infrastructure.¶¶
Morocco, whose security personnel's involvement is to be investigated and whose border management funding is to be audited and possibly suspended.¶¶
Migrants who took part in the mass crossings, who are to be stopped, returned or removed and whose asylum claims from such operations are to be rejected.¶¶
Residents of Ceuta, who receive Parliament's solidarity and condolences for victims of criminal acts since the attack.¶
Online platforms and fact-checkers, which Parliament says cannot be made responsible for border protection or used to expand surveillance.¶¶

Figures and deadlines

over 1.1 million applications resulted from Spain's extraordinary regularisation process in 2026¶
Spanish intelligence warned on 29 July 2026 of coordinated plans to enter Ceuta by land and sea¶
on 4 August 2026 the Spanish Interior Minister claimed 70 000 out of 72 000 people had returned to Morocco¶
six weeks later, more than 10 000 people were reportedly still in Ceuta¶
at least 148 people had reached Málaga and Cádiz by 19 August 2026¶
an eightfold increase in crime in Ceuta since 30 July 2026 was reported¶
Ceuta's Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating 23 alleged cases of sexual assault¶
a 100 % return objective is called for concerning all people without a legal right to remain¶

Legal basis: Articles 4(2) and (3) of the Treaty on European Union and Articles 72, 77 and 80 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union¶

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text and ¶ links to the paragraph it rests on. Check the text itself before relying on it.