EU report flags Spain's weak southern border and lack of contingency plan before Ceuta influx

In May, the European Commission issued a Schengen state of play report that painted Spain as the most vulnerable southern EU frontier, lacking a formal contingency plan for mass migrant arrivals and suffering chronic personnel deficits. The document also criticized Spain’s inadequate return mechanisms, grouping it with Greece and Austria as the only EU members unable to process deportations effectively. Recommendations included strengthening document fraud controls, introducing biometric checks, and improving coordination with Frontex and neighboring states.

Despite these warnings, the Sánchez government did not act promptly, taking more than a month to request EU assistance and only securing a permanent Frontex presence a week before the Ceuta incident. Morocco has publicly blamed Spain for the ongoing stalemate over migrant returns.