European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for a coordinated response from European Union countries after the migrant crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, which has caused new tensions between member states. In a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Von der Leyen stressed that the situation in Ceuta shows the need for further measures to strengthen the Union's external borders, especially in areas most exposed to migratory pressure.

Among the measures proposed by the head of the European Commission are increased border surveillance and, if necessary, the use of physical barriers to prevent illegal crossings. "Protecting all our external borders is a common European responsibility," Von der Leyen stressed, calling for EU countries to act together in the face of the challenges of irregular migration.

The Ceuta crisis erupted after a mass influx of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish North African territory, sparking diplomatic clashes within the EU. Several member states, including Italy and Denmark, have called for tougher measures against Spain, including discussing suspending it from the Schengen area, a proposal that has drawn a strong reaction from Madrid.

Spain described the stance of some countries as "selfish" and called for a meeting of EU interior ministers to discuss the consequences of the crisis and a common strategy.

Von der Leyen stated that the meeting should serve to draw lessons from the situation in Ceuta and to build a common European approach to illegal migration.

She also proposed strengthening early warning systems for border management in cooperation with Spain, particularly in the areas of Ceuta and Melilla, as well as increasing technical and financial support for Morocco. In recent months, the European Union has strengthened migration policies, giving member states the option to send asylum seekers to reception centers outside EU territory, known as “return centers.”