Ceuta migrant death toll rises to 75 as EU backs Spain

The death toll from attempts to reach Ceuta rose to about 75 as European Union ministers backed Spain's handling of a mass migration crisis in the North African enclave.

Spanish officials said Tuesday that 72,000 people entered Ceuta from Morocco last week and that all but 2,000 had returned. They said about 75 migrants died while trying to reach the enclave, raising the estimated toll from 72.

EU migration chief Magnus Brunner said after three hours of talks with the bloc's interior ministers that the crisis had tested Europe's border security, resilience to disinformation and solidarity among member states.

“It was a crisis, but now fortunately, it has been resolved,” Brunner said.

The crisis exposed divisions inside the 27-nation European Union. Twenty-two countries backed a call for firmer action against illegal immigration, while Italy and Denmark had advocated suspending Spain from the Schengen free-travel area, an idea Madrid rejected and which AFP reported would be impossible under EU law.

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska described Tuesday's talks as constructive. French minister Laurent Nunez said all member states expressed solidarity with Spain.

Denmark's immigration minister, Morten Bodskov, said he was very satisfied with Spain's response, while saying the events showed the need to control the EU's borders.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi expressed solidarity with Madrid, according to a transcript shared by his office, but also urged EU countries to set up return centres outside the bloc and suggested using trade measures to pressure Morocco, which he accused of failing to cooperate on repatriation.

A statement after the meeting said ministers commended Spain for its swift and effective response and noted that there had been no onward movement to mainland Spain or other EU member states. It also said communication during such moments could be made more coherent.