After Ceuta influx, Friedrich Merz says EU return directive "must now be implemented without delay"

After roughly 60,000 people crossed from Morocco into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, European officials reacted with alarm over border security. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the influx an assault on Spain’s territorial integrity and pledged state resources to maintain order. Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU’s executive, urged quick returns to Morocco, while UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham voiced concern and said London had contacted Madrid. In that context, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he backed Spain’s refusal to let undocumented arrivals reach mainland Europe and insisted that EU law governing deportations be applied immediately. More than 25,000 had reportedly already gone back voluntarily. The episode matters because migrants could try to move onward to mainland Europe and Britain.