Lisbon, Aug. 4, 2026 (Lusa) - Portugal's minister for internal affairs said on Tuesday that the integrity of the Schengen area had never been called into question by the migration crisis in Ceuta, but warned that unilateral national policies could have repercussions beyond the states implementing them.
The EU's ministers for internal affairs held an extraordinary videoconference today to discuss the crisis in Ceuta following the arrival of thousands of migrants from Morocco.
In a statement, the ministry headed by Luís Neves noted that the minister maintained that «the integrity of the Schengen Area was never at risk, specifically due to Ceuta's geographical location, as well as the special status of that territory, which requires special controls on movements to the European mainland».
«The minister also considered that national immigration policies have effects beyond the borders of each Member State, arguing that unilateral measures can create expectations and pull factors that contribute to this type of phenomenon, calling for coordination between Member States and affirming that European solidarity must go hand in hand with national responsibility,» the statement reads.
In April, Spain decided to regularise the status of 500,000 migrants who were in an irregular situation. More recently, a ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court determined that «refusal at the border» or «rapid return» cannot be applied to migrants intercepted at sea when they attempt to swim to Ceuta and Melilla.
On Monday, the Moroccan government stated that it had warned Spain days before the crisis in Ceuta of the implications of the court ruling, which it considered to undermine a crucial element of bilateral cooperation.
At today's meeting, Luís Neves also expressed Portugal's willingness to adopt additional measures, having stepped up surveillance at its southern borders, and said that the crisis in the Spanish enclave in northern Morocco «demonstrates the importance of implementing the Pact on Asylum and Migration, as well as the European Return Regulation, whilst also calling for strengthened cooperation with countries of origin and transit».
The Portuguese position put forward at the meeting is that the European Union should respond «with unity, firmness and responsibility», considering that the incident in Ceuta «marks a break in the recent trend of a reduction in irregular entries into Europe».
Portugal, which was one of the Member States that did not sign the letter signed by several countries – notably Italy, Denmark and Finland – calling for Spain's suspension from the Schengen Area, expressed its solidarity with Spain and lamented the loss of life.
«It also welcomed Spain's operational response, its cooperation with Morocco and the voluntary return of the majority of migrants, advocating the swift return of those who do not meet the legal conditions for residence under European and international law,» the statement reads.
The crisis in Ceuta has sparked divisions across Europe, with Member States such as Italy, Denmark and Finland calling for Spain's suspension from the Schengen Area.
Against this backdrop, 22 Member States, led by Italy and Denmark, also called in a letter for this ministerial meeting to be scheduled, implicitly criticising Spain's migration policy, and in particular its decision in April to regularise the status of 500,000 migrants who were in an irregular situation.
Around 72,000 people entered Ceuta illegally within 24 hours last week, and 70,000 have already returned to Morocco, Portugal's minister for Internal Affairs said today.
The EU's ministers for internal affairs agreed today that it is necessary to strengthen borders and «return mechanisms» for migrants, following a videoconference meeting on the crisis at the Ceuta border.
The Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla have the European Union's only two land borders with the African continent.
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