The European Parliament has called for stronger protection of the European Union's external borders and closer cooperation between Spain and Morocco following the mass irregular crossings into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta at the end of July.

MEPs adopted a resolution on September 17 addressing the crisis, which saw tens of thousands of people cross into Ceuta from Morocco. Parliament also expressed its condolences over the deaths associated with the crossings and called for greater European support for Spain.

Resolution adopted in Strasbourg

The resolution was approved by 339 votes to 225, with 16 abstentions.

It expresses solidarity with the people of Ceuta and Melilla and describes both autonomous cities as Spanish and European territory whose sovereignty and territorial integrity are not in question.

The vote followed a parliamentary debate on September 15 concerning the response to the July events.

Parliament cites 141 deaths

The resolution refers to 141 people who died at sea during the events of July 30 and 31.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had also referred to 141 migrant deaths during his September 3 address to the Spanish Congress on the crisis.

The figure has been reported from humanitarian monitoring and subsequently incorporated into statements by Spanish and European institutions. Earlier assessments during the crisis gave lower provisional totals, so the timing and source of the figure are important when reporting the death toll.

Tens of thousands crossed into Ceuta

The mass crossing began on July 30, when large numbers of people moved towards Ceuta from Morocco.

Spanish authorities subsequently described between 50,000 and 60,000 people as having entered the autonomous city, while European Parliament research has referred to an estimated 80,000 people.

Most of those who entered were subsequently returned to Morocco, although the scale of the incident placed substantial pressure on Ceuta's reception facilities and security services.

Parliament seeks stronger external border protection

MEPs called for additional resources to reinforce the European Union's external borders around Ceuta.

The resolution asks the European Commission and member states to increase financing for border infrastructure and strengthen the operational capabilities of Frontex, the EU's border and coast guard agency.

Parliament also called for EU assistance to be deployed quickly during future border emergencies.

Calls for greater EU support for Spain

The resolution urges the Spanish Government to make full and effective use of emergency EU funding made available following the crisis.

It also calls for Spain to cooperate fully with the ongoing national judicial investigation into the events of July.

The European Parliament said European support should include both financial assistance and operational resources from EU agencies.

Cooperation with Morocco

Relations with Morocco form a central part of the resolution.

MEPs called on Spain and Morocco to intensify cooperation over the return and readmission of irregular migrants who entered Ceuta during the mass crossings.

The Parliament also called on Moroccan authorities to fulfil their responsibilities concerning border management, migrant smuggling, identification and readmission.

Parliament questions Spain's regularisation policy

The resolution also addresses Spain's large-scale regularisation programme for undocumented migrants.

The Parliament argues that the policy could create a “pull factor” and send the wrong signal to potential migrants and smuggling networks.

That is the Parliament's assessment expressed in the resolution, rather than an established finding that the regularisation programme caused the July crossings.

MEPs asked the European Commission to examine whether national regularisation schemes could have cross-border effects, including consequences for secondary movements within the Schengen area.

The EU migration pact is now in force

The Parliament also pointed to the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which became applicable on June 12, 2026.

MEPs said Spain should make full use of the legal and operational framework established by the pact.

The resolution calls for the swift return of people who have no right to remain in the European Union, including unaccompanied minors, while stressing that returns must comply with European and international law.

A separate issue from Ibiza

The resolution concerns the situation in Ceuta and Spain's external border with Morocco, rather than a specific incident in Ibiza or the Balearic Islands.

However, the wider European migration debate is relevant to Spain as a whole. Frontex groups movements involving Ceuta, Melilla, mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands within its broader western Mediterranean migration route.

The policy changes and additional EU resources discussed in the resolution therefore form part of a wider Spanish and European approach to migration management.

The question of “hybrid warfare”

One of the strongest phrases in the resolution is Parliament's description of the instrumentalisation of irregular migration as a form of hybrid warfare against the territorial integrity of an EU member state.

That wording represents the position adopted by the European Parliament.

Spain has continued to say that there is no evidence establishing that the Moroccan government organised the July mass crossing, while investigations into the circumstances surrounding the event have continued.

The distinction is important because political assessments about the causes of the crisis should not be presented as proven findings.

Security forces praised

The European Parliament also praised the response of Spain's Policía Nacional, Guardia Civil and armed forces, as well as the Spanish Red Cross, Cáritas, NGOs and other civil-society organisations involved in the emergency response.

At the same time, the resolution condemned acts of violence reported in Ceuta following the July events.

MEPs called for additional police and security resources to help maintain public order.

Spain has requested additional EU assistance

Following the crisis, Spain formally requested additional assistance from the European Union.

The request included support from Frontex, Europol and the European Union Agency for Asylum.

For Frontex, Spain has sought an extension of Operation Minerva as well as additional officers and assistance with returns.

The European Commission has said the request is being assessed while Spain remains responsible for managing its own borders.

A crisis with wider European consequences

The July events in Ceuta have developed into a broader European debate over external borders, migration policy, cooperation with neighbouring countries and the operation of the Schengen area.

The European Parliament's resolution now adds a formal parliamentary position to the debate.

Its recommendations cover border infrastructure, Frontex, EU emergency funding, cooperation with Morocco, returns and the implementation of the EU migration pact.

What happens next

The resolution itself is not a new EU law, but a political position adopted by the European Parliament.

The practical response will depend on actions by Spain, Morocco, the European Commission, EU agencies and individual member states.

Spain's judicial investigation into the July events is also continuing.

Meanwhile, cooperation between Spain and Morocco remains central to the management of the border and to efforts to deal with the people who entered Ceuta during the crisis.

A major test for Europe's external border

The events of July placed Ceuta at the centre of Europe's migration debate and exposed the particular challenges faced by Spain at its North African borders.

With the European Parliament now calling for stronger border protection, increased EU assistance and closer cooperation with Morocco, the consequences of the crisis extend well beyond the city itself.

The coming months will show how those calls are translated into operational measures and whether further changes are made to Spain's and the EU's approach to migration management.