European Parliament condemns mass migrant crossing into Spain's Ceuta, urges full probe

The European Parliament on Wednesday adopted an amendment condemning the mass migrant flows into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta in late July, and demanding a thorough, independent investigation to clarify responsibility for the incident.

The amendment passed with 435 votes in favor, 209 against and 13 abstentions. It used terms such as "attack" and "invasion" to frame the incident as one involving the EU's southern border, and asked for an "independent and exhaustive" investigation to clarify responsibility for the planning and execution of the incident and its purpose.

In late July, large numbers of irregular migrants crossed into Ceuta from Morocco, triggering Spain's worst border migration crisis in years. The local government in Ceuta declared a state of emergency and asked Spain's central government to send in military support.

Juan Jesus Vivas, the Mayor-President of the autonomous city of Ceuta, said last Friday that around 13,000 irregular migrants remained stranded in the enclave, including many unaccompanied minors.

He also accused Morocco of using the border migration crisis to threaten Ceuta's territorial integrity and demanded the EU deliver a "firm response."

U.S. stocks ended lower on Wednesday, with all three major indexes closing in the red as investors digested the Federal Reserve's decision to raise interest rates for the first time in three years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 631.21 points, or 1.21 percent, to 51,461.9. The S and P 500 sank 33.92 points, or 0.45 percent, to 7,551.81. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 3.15 points, or 0.01 percent, to 25,978.43.

Eight of the 11 primary S and P 500 sectors ended in the red, with energy and financials leading the laggards by dropping 2.97 percent and 1.63 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, technology and health led the gainers by adding 0.1 percent and 0.04 percent, respectively.

The Fed on Wednesday raised its target federal funds rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.75 percent to 4 percent, marking its first rate hike since July 2023 as it battles stubborn inflation.