The interior ministers plan to seek further rapprochement. Tuesday’s discussion will focus on lessons from Ceuta, enhancing controls at the bloc’s external borders, and addressing potential future episodes of instrumentalized migration, rather than assigning blame for the crisis, according to three diplomats.
“Everyone is very willing and eager to help, acknowledging this has been very difficult for Spain,” one EU diplomat said after the ambassadors’ gathering. The diplomat noted that Monday’s meeting was calmer than the weekend’s public exchanges.
Twenty-two national leaders, through a letter initiated by Italy and Denmark, called on Saturday for tougher external borders and cautioned against policies that could be “pull factors” — referring to Spain’s move to grant legal status to over a million undocumented migrants. Madrid saw the letter as an attempt to blame the Spanish government for a crisis not of its making.
Tuesday’s videoconference will be chaired by Ireland’s Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan. EU border agency Frontex, the EU Asylum Agency, Europol, the European External Action Service, and Schengen-associated countries will also participate.
The crisis has elevated migration on the EU agenda. The issue was initially set for the October European Council summit, but officials now expect it to be more prominent, according to the diplomats.
The Commission is likely to consider new migration measures in September, after examining the causes of the influx and whether social media or other actors contributed, according to three diplomats. Strengthening Frontex is one option, with the Commission indicating it could propose additional steps to bolster the agency’s role, according to the diplomats.
Max Griera contributed reporting. This article has been updated.
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