Spain will demand solidarity from all European Union member states at an emergency meeting of interior ministers in Brussels on Tuesday, after Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares warned that those refusing to help are "working against Europe". Madrid called for the gathering to seek a common bloc-wide response and counter criticism from partners led by Italy and Denmark.
Albares lashed out at Italy, accusing Rome of failing to manage its own migration challenges on Lampedusa while belonging to what he termed a "reactionary international" amplifying falsehoods about the Schengen area. He urged monitoring of social media to trace the origins of disinformation.
Albares praised Morocco's cooperation, saying Rabat moved swiftly to mobilize police resources, and confirmed that security forces have so far returned 69,500 people to Morocco, pledging that "every last person" who crossed illegally would be sent back. He declared the Spanish sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla "unquestionable" and said border defenses at Ceuta's breakwater are being reinforced to comply with a Supreme Court ruling.