Spain has asked European governments to refrain from publicly criticizing Morocco over the recent migration crisis in Ceuta, according to a report by Euractiv citing diplomatic sources.
The request was reportedly made during an online meeting of European Union interior ministers held to discuss the mass influx of migrants into the city of Ceuta.
According to Euractiv, Madrid's position reflects a broader European effort to avoid further straining relations with Rabat, which the bloc continues to regard as a key partner in managing migration flows toward Europe.
Ceuta experienced an unprecedented surge in migrant arrivals in late July, when tens of thousands of people crossed from other Moroccan cities into the city.
Speaking on Tuesday, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said that around 72,000 migrants had entered Ceuta during the crisis, adding that approximately 70,000 had already returned. He noted that Ceuta's resident population is about 85,000, underscoring the scale of the influx.
