The European Parliament has endorsed several demands put forward by the ECR Group in response to the July crisis in Ceuta, including recognition of the risks created by mass regularisation policies, stronger protection of Europe’s external borders and a thorough examination of what went wrong.

For the ECR Group, the vote marks an important acknowledgement that national migration policies can have consequences far beyond one Member State. In particular, Parliament has now recognised that large-scale regularisation can encourage further irregular migration and send the wrong message to smugglers and those considering illegal entry into the European Union.

ECR Group Co-Chair Nicola Procaccini said after the vote:

“The Spanish Government made a serious mistake by pursuing mass regularisation without properly considering the consequences. If people are given the impression that entering Europe illegally may eventually lead to legal status, that inevitably creates an incentive for others to try the same route. Today, Parliament has recognised that this cannot simply be ignored.”

The ECR Group also insisted throughout the negotiations that the circumstances surrounding the Ceuta crisis must be fully established. The adopted text calls for full cooperation with the ongoing judicial investigation and for the authorities to have the resources needed to determine how the crisis developed and where failures occurred.

ECR Group Co-Chair Patryk Jaki said:

“What happened in Ceuta must be fully clarified. Europeans have a right to know how a crisis of this scale was allowed to develop, what warnings were available and whether the response was adequate. We must also recognise the growing danger of migration being weaponised and used as a tool of pressure against European countries. Full transparency is essential, not only for Spain but also because the security of an external border concerns the whole Schengen area.”

The resolution also strengthens calls for effective returns, greater operational support at the external border and closer cooperation with Morocco. For the ECR Group, those who have no legal right to remain in the European Union should be returned swiftly, while Member States on the frontline must receive practical support rather than being left to deal with exceptional pressure alone.

Spanish ECR MEP Diego Solier said:

“Ceuta is not a distant border problem. It is Spanish territory and part of the European Union. Its citizens experienced the consequences of this crisis directly, and they deserve security, answers and the full support of both Spain and Europe. The Sánchez Government cannot continue to pursue its failed migration policies in Madrid and then expect Ceuta to bear the consequences. Protecting Ceuta means protecting Europe’s external border.”

The ECR Group had pushed from the outset for the events in Ceuta to be addressed at European level and for Parliament to take a position on the political and security lessons arising from the crisis.

The resolution was adopted on Thursday by 339 votes to 225, with 16 abstentions.