Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said today, Saturday (September 5, 2026), that the influx of large numbers of migrants into the Spanish-controlled enclave of Ceuta this summer did not pose a threat to the European Union's freedom of movement zone.
“We can say that there was no immediate threat to the Schengen Area at that time,” Rangel said in an interview on the sidelines of the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio, near Milan, according to Bloomberg News. He added: "This has always been our assessment, and we are neighboring countries, so we, along with France, would be exposed to the first impact."
Tens of thousands of migrants crossed into Ceuta from Morocco on July 31, sparking a major crisis that prompted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to impose border inspections with Spain. Spain responded with similar inspection measures on travelers arriving from Italy.
Although Spain is part of the European Union's Schengen Area, which allows passport-free travel between member states, travelers departing from Ceuta are required to undergo identity checks when moving to the rest of the bloc.
Meloni's critics described her decision to impose border inspections as a political move to appease her popular base, in light of the rise in popularity of the far-right "National Future" movement in opinion polls.
The government insists that the move was motivated by security concerns, and indicated that it may review the decision soon. Meloni and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez have publicly clashed over immigration and other issues.
Portugal praises Morocco's efforts
Rangel said that Spain and Italy are "friends," adding that he is "sure that this minor tension" will be resolved soon. He explained that although his government did not sign at that time a letter from European leaders calling for emergency talks on Ceuta, it supported Meloni's call for a meeting of interior ministers.
He said that Portugal monitored the situation hour by hour, and was "receiving information and providing information as well," noting that Morocco's efforts to contain irregular migration were "very impressive indeed."
Spain's handling of the crisis has led to a decline in the popularity of the ruling Socialist Party in opinion polls, ahead of elections scheduled for next year, while the crisis itself has revealed deep divisions within the Ceuta enclave.
Madrid controls the port of Ceuta
The leftist Spanish government in Madrid has imposed control over the port in the North African enclave of Ceuta, amid a dispute over the shelter of migrants in the region. The official Spanish radio and television broadcaster RTÉ reported today that Transport Minister Oscar Puente signed a decision allowing the establishment of a temporary tent camp for migrants in the port area. Thus, Puente annulled a contrary decision taken by the local authorities.
The local government, headed by Juan Jesús Vivas, the president of the enclave, on Friday opposed the establishment of such a camp in the port area. He said that the port is vital to supplying the enclave with its needs, noting also that there is a large fuel depot near it.
Local authorities had previously also opposed temporarily housing migrants in an abandoned factory, a former military hospital, or sports centres. An additional camp for about 900 people is being set up in the Los Rosales neighbourhood, where residents have also organized protests.
According to government figures, about 72,000 migrants from Morocco swam to Ceuta or climbed the border fences on July 30 and 31. Most of them returned within hours. However, about 5,000 migrants remained in the area, which has an area of about 18 square kilometers, more than a month later. The government said that among them were 1,200 minors.
Edited by: A.J.M
