EU moves to tighten border controls after Ceuta migration crisis

The European Union (EU) held an informal videoconference on Tuesday to discuss the illegal migrant influx into Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa.

During the meeting, the bloc outlined plans to further strengthen its external border controls, accelerate the repatriation of undocumented migrants, and provide additional support to Spain.

Ceuta, located on the Mediterranean coast of northwestern Africa near the Strait of Gibraltar, borders Morocco. The recent surge of illegal crossings from the Moroccan side has triggered the most severe border migration crisis Spain has faced in recent years.

EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner said the migrant crisis in Ceuta this time was fueled by criminal smuggling networks and false information circulating on social media.

Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said on Tuesday that around 70,000 of the roughly 72,000 migrants who entered Ceuta irregularly have already returned to Morocco and that the situation at the enclave's border is now broadly under control.

The country's government delegation in Ceuta also confirmed on the same day that the mass crossing has caused at least 75 deaths.

Spain's central government estimates that about 2,500 migrants remain in Ceuta, while the local government puts the figure at between 3,000 and 5,000. According to the local authorities, at least 1,000 of those remaining are minors.

EU moves to tighten border controls after Ceuta migration crisis

European Union (EU) leaders agreed on Friday that EU institutions and the E5 group of the Coalition of the Willing would form Europe's team for negotiations on peace in Ukraine, European Council President Antonio Costa said.

Speaking after an informal EU leaders' meeting in Dublin, Costa said the European negotiating team would act in close coordination and unity, stressing that Europe must speak with "one clear and united voice" in discussions concerning Ukraine's future and European security.

He stressed that the EU has "a central role in discussing Ukraine's European future, its reconstruction and prosperity," and security guarantees for Ukraine should be discussed "within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing, in close coordination with NATO."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the agreement, saying the European team would include the European Council, the European Commission and the E5, including Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Poland.

"We decide on who represents us, and that's what we've done today," she said, adding that Europe wanted to safeguard its interests and support Ukraine in the negotiations.

On further assistance to Ukraine, Costa said EU leaders would discuss the country's financing needs for next year and beyond at the next European Council meeting on Nov. 26 to 27.

EU institutions, E5 to represent Europe in Ukraine peace talks