Ursula von der Leyen says "partnership with Morocco will help deliver concrete results" amid Ceuta

After tens of thousands of people — around 60,000 — crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, the Spanish territory on Africa’s northern coast, European officials voiced alarm. Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, called the mass entry a challenge to state borders. On Friday, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen supported promptly sending people back and said she expected the EU’s ties with Morocco to help ease the crisis. Finland’s foreign minister demanded fast repatriations, Germany’s chancellor urged immediate use of the bloc’s removal rules, and Britain’s shadow home secretary said Madrid should keep migrants off the Spanish mainland. Ceuta’s local authorities said more than 25,000 had already chosen to return voluntarily. Analysts warned that asylum processing in Ceuta is severely strained, leaving unclear whether those who remain might move onward into mainland Europe or Britain.