Far-right lawmakers intensify criticism of Morocco over Ceuta migration crisis

07:30

By: Azzat Manal

Far-right lawmakers intensify criticism of Morocco over Ceuta migration crisis

Far-right forces in the European Parliament have stepped up their criticism of Morocco over the recent migration crisis in Ceuta, putting forward allegations about Morocco’s role in the mass arrivals while calling for closer scrutiny of EU cooperation with Rabat.

The issue has become part of a broader political debate over the events of July 30 and 31, when tens of thousands of people entered the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta irregularly. Spain’s government has described the episode as an unprecedented migration emergency and has since focused on border control, humanitarian assistance, registration procedures and the return of migrants to Morocco.

During discussions in the European Parliament, members of the Europe of Sovereign Nations group, which includes several nationalist and far-right parties, reportedly sought to frame the episode as a security challenge affecting Spain and the EU’s external borders. Their position includes calls for further investigation into alleged involvement by Moroccan security personnel.

Such allegations remain politically contested and should be distinguished from officially established findings. Spanish authorities have publicly emphasized the importance of cooperation with Morocco in managing the crisis. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that coordination with Moroccan authorities was essential to the rapid return of people who had crossed into Ceuta, with more than 90 percent returning within the first days of the emergency.

The Spanish government has also highlighted the role of misinformation in the events surrounding the influx. Sánchez said in September that social-media networks had circulated a distorted interpretation of a Spanish Supreme Court ruling, which contributed to expectations among some migrants that they could enter Spain without being returned. He also said that information available to Spanish security services and the National Intelligence Centre had detected an increase in movements toward Ceuta before the crisis, but not on the scale that ultimately occurred.

The political dispute has also extended to European funding and border-management cooperation with Morocco. Calls for greater scrutiny of EU financial support reflect wider disagreements within the European Parliament over how the bloc should manage migration partnerships with neighbouring countries.

Meanwhile, Spain has continued to rely on cooperation with Morocco in dealing with the aftermath of the crisis. According to the Spanish government, thousands of migrants have voluntarily returned to Morocco, while additional expulsions have been carried out under established legal procedures. Madrid has also expanded reception capacity and strengthened administrative and security resources in Ceuta.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has separately stressed the importance of continued cooperation with Morocco, including efforts to facilitate returns and counter misinformation surrounding the crisis. He has described cooperation with Moroccan authorities as a central element of Spain’s response.

The debate in the European Parliament therefore reflects two competing approaches: one focused primarily on security, accountability and tighter scrutiny of migration partnerships, and another emphasizing operational cooperation with Morocco as part of the management of Europe’s southern borders. The events in Ceuta continue to raise questions about migration policy, disinformation, border security and the balance between national interests and European cooperation.