Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani blamed Spain’s recently closed regularization program for undocumented migrants as a factor encouraging human trafficking.
Spain rejected this, with Foreign Minister Albares calling the remarks “unbecoming.”
The European Union’s response has been mixed, with 22 of 27 member states calling for emergency talks to support Spain in restoring border control.
EU officials planned a crisis meeting chaired by Ireland’s presidency to coordinate expert responses.
Spain has deployed troops, police, drones, and maritime barriers to secure Ceuta and its other North African enclave, Melilla.
Sánchez blamed trafficking gangs for exploiting a Supreme Court ruling that migrants intercepted at sea cannot be summarily returned to Morocco without due process.
Morocco and Spain are cooperating to manage the situation, with Spain considering further border reinforcements.
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The migrant surge follows ongoing economic challenges and social unrest in Morocco, which has prompted many young people to seek better opportunities in Europe.
