According to an internal EU security report, the migration situation in the Spanish North African exclave of Ceuta is considerably more tense than is officially presented. The situation description, cited by “Welt,” outlines a persistently chaotic scenario that has alarmed authorities, alongside thousands of migrants who are unwilling to return.
The report integrates assessments from several security agencies, including Frontex, the EU’s border guard agency, and Europol, the EU’s police agency. It has also been provided to the European Commission, drawing upon local sources, satellite imagery, and media reports. The English-language version of the report was last updated on Sunday.
The report specifically highlights a stressed situation at the central reception center, CETI. This facility was already overcrowded even before the crisis, operating with only 512 places. It is now struggling to manage the pressure from roughly 1,800 migrants. The authors describe a siege-like atmosphere, noting that migrants “inhabit the surrounding area of the reception center and attempt to sneak onto the grounds whenever the slightest opportunity arises.”
Beyond the main center, the situation remains “very critical,” the report warns. Migrants are seen wandering throughout the city and its outskirts. While the exact number of people who have been holding out in the city of nearly 90,000 residents is contested, the situation description registers between 8,000 and 11,000 people as of Saturday.
A significant portion of those affected are minors and youths. Child protection is therefore a priority, particularly due to concerns about potential abuse. The authorities have already registered and taken custody of 1,342 minors. Furthermore, two schools have been opened, including a dedicated girls’ school for 110 children.
The report does not clarify whether the migration movement was politically managed or instrumentalized beyond the largely unrestricted border crossings.
Security agencies are paying close attention to August 15th. The report states that calls urging migrants to “break through” the border en masse on this date and proceed into Ceuta continue to circulate. According to Europol’s assessment within the report, this date could also serve as a distraction, with a larger migration wave being considered possible either immediately before or after.
Social networks have also played a role in the escalation. Numerous migrants have reported that videos and news on platforms like TikTok gave the impression that the otherwise heavily guarded border was open, and that accommodation for onward travel to the Spanish mainland was available in Ceuta. Last weekend, EU Digital Commissioner Henna Virkkunen indirectly assigned some blame for the crisis to platforms such as Meta and TikTok. Following a meeting with representatives of both companies, she revealed that they had insufficiently addressed disinformation.
According to the security report, the relevant Directorate-General of the EU Commission held a telephone call with Meta and TikTok on August 7th. Both corporations have since activated their crisis modes and are addressing the Ceuta situation, along with fact-checkers, as a “top priority.”
