At least 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta on 30 and 31 July 2026. Most swam around a border fence and about 140&nbsp;&nbsp;people died during the crossing.

The vast majority of the migrants returned to Morocco&nbsp; in short time.&nbsp;Spanish authorities said that&nbsp;between 5,000 and 8,000 people remained in Ceuta.&nbsp;The EP LIBE committee held&nbsp;an extraordinary meeting over the situation on 6 of August. The plenary debated it on 15 of September.

MEPs condemned the mass irregular crossings into Ceuta and call for increased EU support, cooperation with Morocco and the return of persons with no right to stay.

MEPs expressed deep sorrow for the 141 people who died at sea during the events of 30 and 31 July 2026.&nbsp;While regretting the preventable loss of life , Parliament denounced&nbsp;the instrumentalisation of irregular migration as a tool of hybrid warfare against the territorial integrity of an EU country. Strengthening the protection of the EU’s external borders in Ceuta is of the utmost priority, MEPs say.

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

9th parliamentary term

new pact on asylum and migration (T)

Migration

Infoclip: Social assistance for migrants (Rome, Italy)

European Border and Coast Guard Regulation (Frontex Regulation): extracts from the exchange of views with Magnus BRUNNER, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration

DMAG meeting - Exchange of views on migration flow management in the Maghreb area, on migrant hubs and the situation in Ceuta

EP Plenary session - September 2026 - Voting session

State of the European Union debate 2026 - #SOTEU2026: statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the EC, on Migration

The recent hybrid attacks and instrumentalisation of migrants in Ceuta and the need for a coordinated response to protect EU’s external borders: extracts from the debate

Recent hybrid attacks and instrumentalisation of migrants in Ceuta and the need for a coordinated response to protect EU’s external borders: closing statement by Thomas BYRNE, Irish Minister of State

Recent hybrid attacks and instrumentalisation of migrants in Ceuta and the need for a coordinated response to protect EU’s external borders: MEPs debate (part 2)

Recent hybrid attacks and instrumentalisation of migrants in Ceuta and the need for a coordinated response to protect EU’s external borders: MEPs debate and reply from Magnus BRUNNER, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration

Recent hybrid attacks and instrumentalisation of migrants in Ceuta and the need for a coordinated response to protect EU’s external borders: opening statements by Thomas BYRNE, Irish Minister of State and Magnus BRUNNER, European Commissioner

Press conference on the situation in Ceuta

Press Conference by Javier ZARZALEJOS (EPP, ES), LIBE Chair, accompanied by Juan Jesús VIVAS, the President of Ceuta, on the situation in Ceuta

Plenary Round-up - Strasbourg, June 2026

World Refugee Day: EU solidarity with Ukraine

EPRS policy podcast - Temporary protection directive

EPRS podcast policy - Search and rescue in the Mediterranean

LIBE: Frontex Regulation with Commissioner Magnus Brunner

EP President, Roberta METSOLA meets with UN High commissioner for Refugees, Barham SALIH

EP Plenary debate on next steps in implementing the Pact on Migration and Asylum

Managing migration in an effective and holistic way through fostering returns

Strengthening the security of Europe’s external borders: need for a comprehensive approach and enhanced Frontex support

Need to prevent security threats like the Solingen attack through addressing illegal migration and effective return

Voting session

Plenary debate - EU migration and asylum rules

Press conference on Asylum and migration pact files

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Infoclip: Migration Flows at the Ceuta Border - Management and Border Returns

Economist’s 30th Annual Government Roundtable - Debate with the participation of Roberta METSOLA, EP President and Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS, Greek Prime Minister

Voting Session: Common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union (Return regulation) - Report Malik AZMANI

Common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union (Return Regulation): Closing statement by Malik AZMANI (Renew, NL), Rapporteur, and Magnus BRUNNER, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration

Common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union (Return Regulation): one round of political group speakers

Common system for the return of third-country nationals staying illegally in the Union (Return Regulation): Opening statements by Malik AZMANI (Renew, NL), Rapporteur, and Magnus BRUNNER, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration

Voting Session

Infoclip: Returns regulation

Press conference by Lena DÜPONT (EPP, DE), Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR (S&D, ES), Alessandro CIRIANI (ECR, IT) and Matjaž NEMEC (S&D, SI) on migration and asylum pact (part 2)

Press conference by Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), Birgit SIPPEL (S&D, DE), Jorge BUXADÉ (PfE, ES) and Fabienne KELLER (RE, FR), on migration and asylum pact (part 1)

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Barham SALIH, UN High Commissioner for Refugees: extracts from the roundtable

Press conference by Alessandro CIRIANI (ECR, IT) and Lena DÜPONT (EPP, DE), rapporteurs on Safe countries of origin and safe third country concept

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