The President of the Government of Spain assured Parliament that his Government does not have "solid evidence" that Morocco has planned or organized the massive arrival of migrants to Ceuta at the end of July, despite the fact that a report from the Spanish Police points to a lower presence of Moroccan agents. The President of the Government also rejected the recent claims of Moroccan ministers about Ceuta and Melilla.

First modification: 09/03/2026 - 10:46 Last modification: 09/03/2026 - 11:11

Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain, stated before deputies on September 3 that he does not have "solid evidence that Morocco has planned or organized" the massive arrival of migrants to Ceuta at the end of July.

Morocco's possible role in this massive arrival has been at the center of the debate in Spain for a month.

The statement comes after the publication of a report by the Spanish Police that mentions, among other elements, a "significantly lower deployment than usual" and the "permissiveness" of the Moroccan agents.

Read alsoPolice report places Moroccan gendarmes behind the crisis in Ceuta and increases pressure on the Spanish Government

The President of the Government also criticized the statements of Moroccan ministers who claimed Morocco's rights over the two Spanish territories located in North Africa.

“We have heard two ministers make unacceptable statements about Ceuta and Melilla (...) two statements, ladies and gentlemen, which of course we have categorically rejected and for which, I want to inform you, we summoned the Moroccan ambassador on August 21,” said Pedro Sánchez.

During his appearance in Congress on the migratory crisis in Ceuta, after the massive entry of more than 70,000 people from Morocco on July 30 and 31, the president announced that Spain will ask the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, to establish a "permanent presence" in the port and breakwater of the Spanish city of Ceuta, bordering Morocco, as well as a specific Europol mission.

The Europol mission would be in charge of "monitoring irregular migration" in Ceuta to ensure, as explained to the deputies, that "this European border has the European support it deserves."

Sánchez also announced the review of the coordination and alert mechanisms with Morocco, with "additional guarantees", and assured that Spain wants to maintain a "good neighborly" relationship with the neighboring country, although he pointed out that, after the events in Ceuta, cooperation "has to be different."

In addition, he asked King Felipe VI to visit Melilla and Ceuta "in the coming weeks" to convey to them "the absolute commitment of the State."

Ceuta and Melilla, both bordering Morocco, constitute the only land borders of the European Union with Africa.

The last visit by a Spanish monarch to these two territories located in North Africa dates back to November 2007. At that time, the trip caused a diplomatic crisis with Morocco, which claims sovereignty over both enclaves.

With AFP and EFE

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