Spain Defends Ceuta Border Response Amid EU Ministerial Talks

Of the roughly 72,000 migrants who entered the territory, approximately 70,000 have already departed. Grande-Marlaska clarified that the integrity of the Schengen zone remained intact, as Ceuta sits outside the agreement's geographical scope. He maintained that Spanish intelligence services possessed no prior warnings or indications of an imminent mass crossing.

Addressing the logistical challenges, the minister confirmed that Madrid moved quickly to install a maritime barrier off the coast. This infrastructure effort follows a July ruling by Spain's Supreme Court, which prohibited the immediate deportation of migrants arriving by sea in the absence of physical border protections. Grande-Marlaska insisted that despite the lack of intelligence, the state remains fully prepared to handle similar border incidents with immediate operational responses.