“Ceuta Reshapes Europe” – Mitsotakis Joins 21 EU Leaders Calling for Tougher Migration Policy

Twenty-two European leaders, including Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, have urged the European Union to adopt a tougher stance on illegal migration following the mass arrivals in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has rejected the criticism, warning that Europe must not respond to the crisis with division.

The migration crisis in Ceuta has rapidly evolved from a Spanish domestic challenge into a broader European political issue. Following the mass arrival of tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco, 22 European Union leaders, including Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, signed a joint letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, calling for a significantly stronger EU response to illegal migration.

According to Politico, the initiative was backed by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and the leaders of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.

Growing Concern Over Europe’s External Borders

In their letter, the 22 leaders express “serious concern” over the protection of the European Union’s external borders following the unprecedented migrant influx into Ceuta.

Although Spanish authorities have already returned most of the migrants to Morocco and the crisis has not spread to mainland Europe, the signatories argue that the incident exposed significant weaknesses in the EU’s migration management system.

The leaders warn that Europe cannot allow mass illegal crossings, the exploitation of migration flows or other forms of hybrid pressure to create the perception that illegal entry into the European Union can ultimately result in legal residence.

Criticism of Spain’s Regularisation Policy

The joint letter also questions the Spanish government’s decision to regularise up to 1.2 million undocumented migrants, arguing that large-scale legalisation measures may function as a “pull factor”, encouraging additional irregular migration.

The signatories stress that the European Union has a responsibility to effectively prevent illegal migration by strengthening external border protection, coordinating return policies and avoiding measures that could incentivise further irregular arrivals.

Calls for Stronger EU Coordination

Beyond immediate border security, the 22 leaders propose closer European coordination on migration management.

Among their recommendations are:

• stronger protection of the EU’s external borders;
• enhanced cooperation on returns and readmission procedures;
• the possibility of reinforcing or temporarily reintroducing internal Schengen border controls where necessary;
• and an extraordinary meeting of EU Interior Ministers to assess the situation and coordinate future action.

Sánchez Pushes Back

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez responded with a separate letter addressed to the same EU leaders, defending Spain’s migration policy and criticising what he described as politically motivated attacks against his government.

Sánchez argued that proposals to suspend or restrict Spain’s participation in the Schengen Area violate both European law and the fundamental principles of European solidarity.

He further accused some European governments of allowing prejudice, misinformation and domestic political interests to shape their response to the crisis rather than relying on facts and European values.

Meloni’s Hard-Line Position

The political pressure intensified after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni publicly suggested that Spain’s handling of the Ceuta crisis justified discussing temporary restrictions within the Schengen framework.

Italy subsequently introduced tighter controls on arrivals from Spain, while France reinforced checks along its border with Spain, highlighting the growing divisions inside the European Union over migration policy.

The joint initiative marks a significant shift in the European debate on migration. Rather than focusing primarily on relocation mechanisms and humanitarian management, a growing coalition of EU governments is placing greater emphasis on border security, deterrence and rapid returns.

By joining the initiative, Kyriakos Mitsotakis aligns Greece with a bloc of member states advocating a stricter migration framework, reflecting Athens’ long-standing position that protecting the EU’s external borders is both a national and a European strategic priority.

The exchange between the 22 leaders and Pedro Sánchez illustrates two competing visions for Europe’s migration policy: one centred on stronger border enforcement and deterrence, and another focused on preserving freedom of movement, humanitarian obligations and European solidarity. As migration pressures continue to rise across the Mediterranean, this divide is likely to shape the next phase of EU migration policy and the implementation of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum.

Source: pagenews.gr