# Feijóo: Europe must fix Spain's border crisis

> Spain's opposition leader says the EU must pressure the government to return migrants and confront Morocco over the Ceuta crossing.
- Title: Feijóo: Europe must fix Spain's border crisis · POLITICO
- Summary: Spain's opposition leader says the EU must pressure the government to return migrants and confront Morocco over the Ceuta crossing. Alberto Núñez Feijóo…
- Keywords: alberto núñez feijóo, people's party, ceuta, spain, morocco, migration crisis, european union, border security, politics, world, Feijóo, Europe
- Source: POLITICO — https://politico.eu/article/in-ceuta-its-up-to-europe-to-clean-up-the-spanish-governments-mess
- Published: 2026-10-02T10:51:49+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: alberto núñez feijóo, people's party, ceuta, spain, morocco, migration crisis, european union, border security, politics, world
## Eighty thousand crossed in one day
On July 30, at least eighty thousand people crossed into Ceuta from Morocco, the largest violation of territorial integrity Spain has experienced in recent decades, testing Europe's southern border.
## Crisis continues fifty days later
Fifty days after the crossing, the situation remains unresolved with no clear prospect of when it might end. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Spain's opposition leader, says the response does not match the scale of what is at stake.
## Feijóo calls it an invasion, not migration
Feijóo says this is not a conventional migration crisis but the consequences of an invasion originating from Morocco, which must be held responsible for having condoned or instigated it.

> We are not witnessing a conventional migration crisis, but rather the consequences of an invasion originating from Morocco.
## Spain must return all irregular migrants
Under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, those who entered irregularly must be returned. Feijóo says the Spanish government's obligation is not to find accommodation for them, but to expedite their departure.

> Those who have entered irregularly must be returned. All of them.
## EU must pressure Spain and Morocco
Feijóo calls on the European Union to recognize the Spanish government's failure and exert pressure to prevent the crisis from becoming entrenched. The EU must ensure Spain implements all available instruments to facilitate returns.
## Morocco says it will take them back
Morocco has reiterated in an official statement its willingness to take back all those who entered on July 30, yet Spanish ministers maintain that no such cooperation exists. Feijóo says the EU must clarify this contradiction.
## Protect EU relationship with Morocco
Feijóo says the EU must use all diplomatic resources to ensure the relationship with Morocco, a strategic partner, continues on the basis of transparency and mutual respect, not undermined by migration flows.
## Feijóo seeks EU support for Spain
Feijóo, who aspires to become Spain's next prime minister, says his first duty as a leader is to guarantee citizen safety, defend national sovereignty and uphold institutional credibility. He seeks EU support at this moment.
## Key takeaway

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, Spain's opposition leader, calls on the European Union to intervene in the Ceuta migration crisis, demanding the Spanish government return all irregular migrants and holding Morocco accountable.