Sittings · Document
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 Renew Group · Rapporteur: Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Raquel García HermidaVan Der Walle, Dainius Žalimas, Vlad VasileVoiculescu, Dan Barna, Martin Hojsík, Ľudovít Ódor, Michal Wiezik, Ľubica Karvašová, Lucia Yar, Sandro Gozi, Fabienne Keller, Petras Auštrevičius, Hilde Vautmans
Parliament's resolution responds to the sudden arrival of approximately 80 000 people from Morocco in Ceuta on 30 and 31 July 2026, when at least 141 people died at sea.¶¶ It expresses solidarity with Spain and Ceuta, calls for EU emergency and long-term funding, and asks the Commission to assess earlier Frontex support at external borders.¶¶ It demands protection and individual assessment for the approximately 1 500 unaccompanied minors still in Ceuta, and respect for asylum law and fundamental rights in any response.¶¶¶ It calls for an independent investigation into who triggered or facilitated the events, and for Commission action against disinformation and platform risks under the Digital Services Act.¶¶ It regrets Italy's internal border controls with Spain and calls on Italy to review them, and calls for full implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum.¶¶
Key points
- Expresses deep regret and sorrow for those who died at sea on 30 and 31 July 2026, and solidarity with the people of Ceuta and those who lost loved ones.¶¶
- Reaffirms that any attempt to undermine Spain's sovereignty and territorial integrity violates international law and the UN Charter.¶
- Welcomes EUR 114.7 million in emergency funding to Spain from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Border Management and Visa Instrument, and calls for sustained structural EU funding for infrastructure in Ceuta.¶
- States that solidarity between Member States and full EU engagement is the only answer to hybrid attacks, and that a divided response makes future attacks more likely.¶
- Calls on the Commission, in the forthcoming revision of Frontex's mandate, to assess earlier operational support to Member States under pressure, including early warning, risk assessment and more automatic deployment.¶
- Calls on Spanish authorities to ensure protection and care of the approximately 1 500 unaccompanied minors in Ceuta and to carry out individual assessments without delay, with their best interests as a primary consideration.¶
- Affirms that people not entitled to remain must return through fair and effective procedures respecting the law, human dignity and fundamental rights, and underlines cooperation with Morocco based on mutual responsibility and reciprocity.¶¶
- Recalls that under Article 41 of the Schengen Borders Code people arriving irregularly in Ceuta may not travel onwards to mainland Spain or other Schengen countries.¶
- Regrets Italy's internal border controls with Spain from 1 August 2026 and their extension until 16 September 2026, doubts their necessity and proportionality, and calls on Italy to review them.¶
- Calls for an independent and transparent investigation into who was responsible for triggering or facilitating the events, what happened at both borders, how many died and how authorities responded.¶
- Calls on the Commission to ensure very large online platforms and search engines comply with the Digital Services Act, including systemic risk assessment and mitigation under Article 35 and use of the Article 36 crisis response mechanism.¶
- Calls on the Commission to investigate state or non-state involvement in instrumentalising migration flows, and on Spain, the Commission and EU agencies to act urgently on the humanitarian crisis and implement the Pact on Migration and Asylum.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- Spain and Ceuta: solidarity expressed, EUR 114.7 million in emergency funding welcomed, and calls to protect external borders and care for unaccompanied minors.¶¶¶
- Unaccompanied minors in Ceuta: individual assessments and protection required, with their best interests as a primary consideration.¶
- Italy: its internal border controls with Spain are regretted and it is called on to review them.¶
- Very large online platforms and search engines: called on to comply with Digital Services Act obligations on systemic risks and mitigation.¶
- Morocco: cooperation on returns, border management, smuggling and readmission is underlined as needing mutual responsibility and reciprocity.¶
Figures and deadlines
- approximately 80 000 people arrived irregularly in Ceuta from Morocco on 30 and 31 July 2026¶
- at least 141 people lost their lives at sea trying to reach Ceuta¶
- approximately 70 000 people voluntarily returned to Morocco over the two days following their arrival¶
- approximately 5 000 irregular migrants remain in Ceuta, of whom approximately 1 500 are unaccompanied minors¶
- EUR 114.7 million in emergency funding granted to Spain from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Border Management and Visa Instrument¶
- Italy introduced internal border controls with Spain from 1 August 2026 until 1 September 2026, extended until 16 September 2026¶¶
Legal basis: Treaty on European Union and Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in particular their provisions on the area of freedom, security and justice¶
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.