EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Monday commended Spain's quick reaction to the migrant rush on its North African enclave of Ceuta, while calling for "united action" on border security across the bloc ahead of talks on Tuesday.
"From this incident, it is clear that we must do more to further strengthen our borders at critical points," von der Leyen wrote in a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez seen by AFP.
"The protection of all our external borders is a shared European responsibility," she warned, calling for "vigilant monitoring and the use of physical barriers where needed."
Von der Leyen commended Sánchez on the "swift handling" of the crisis that saw tens of thousands of people stream into Ceuta from Morocco - almost all of whom have since left.
In fact, in her letter the EU head praised both the Spanish and Moroccan governments for their "efficient", "effective" and "quick " management of the crisis.
