Tensions flared after a majority of leaders cornered Spain over its migration stance
Ursula von der Leyen has praised Pedro Sánchez’s handling of 60,000 migrant arrivals in Ceuta, while saying the episode highlights the need to strengthen EU migration policy.
“Both Spanish and Moroccan authorities have managed this efficiently and effectively, successfully preventing illegal movement onwards to mainland Spain and Europe,” von der Leyen wrote in a letter seen by Euractiv and dated 3 August.
The letter comes in response to one she received from the Spanish prime minister on Saturday, in which he railed against the “prejudice” and selfishness shown by fellow European leaders.
Spain’s actions, she added, had been crucial to preventing the situation from deteriorating further and avoiding “the tragic and unnecessary loss of even more lives”.
