After the recent crisis at the Ceuta border, the European Parliament is openly debating whether to continue its migration and trade partnership with Morocco. Suspending the EU-Morocco agreement once seemed unlikely, but the Partido Popular Europeo, the chamber's largest group, is now discussing the option following the mass entry of migrants into the Spanish enclave.
The basic question is whether Morocco is meeting its obligations as an EU partner. The Partido Popular Europeo has put forward a resolution demanding that Morocco honor its commitments on border management and migrant returns, alongside its broader duty to cooperate. The draft also says any statement from Rabat questioning Spanish sovereignty is unacceptable and incompatible with partnership status.
On September 10, the European Commission announced an emergency funding package of €114.7 million for Ceuta to help manage migration and strengthen border security.
Javier Zarzalejos, a leading Partido Popular Europeo MEP, has argued that political and commercial ties with Morocco are now at risk. He points to the unresolved case of 150 migrants who drowned, whose bodies have not been repatriated, and says it reflects the human cost of the crisis. Others in the group say the resolution stops short of directly calling for suspension, but the threat is clear.
Vox, represented by Jorge Buxadé, has taken a more extreme position, calling Ceuta a war zone and dismissing legal procedures. Buxadé claims the government misled the public about the scale of the incident, alleging a surge of 100,000 people. He also accuses Morocco of acting only to demand the return of all migrants. In response, Socialist MEP Juan Fernando López-Aguilar has warned that such measures would break laws protecting minors and asylum seekers.
The Partido Popular Europeo's draft is now being negotiated with other pro-European groups. The Socialists and Renew are involved, as are the Greens. Insiders expect the text to change significantly as they seek a broad agreement and try to avoid a direct clash with the Spanish government. The Partido Popular, but, continues to use the Ceuta crisis to criticize Pedro Sánchez's administration and keep the issue in the European spotlight.
A European Parliament briefing put the number of people who crossed from Morocco into Ceuta on July 30, 2026, at approximately 80,000. The briefing said the crossing prompted an urgent political response and exposed vulnerabilities in the EU's border management policies.
Partido Popular leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo is set to visit Ceuta for the fourth time since the mass crossing, accompanied by Manfred Weber, head of the Partido Popular Europeo. Before the visit, Feijóo will meet EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner in Madrid, signaling the party's intent to raise the issue at the highest levels of EU policymaking.
Ceuta's position as a Spanish autonomous city on the African continent has long made it a hotspot for migration and diplomatic tension. The EU-Morocco agreement has been central to regional stability, covering migration and trade while also setting out security cooperation. Any move to suspend or change the pact would immediately affect border management and economic ties, with consequences for daily life in both Spain and Morocco.
Brussels' response marks a shift. The European Parliament is treating the Ceuta crisis as a test of the EU's external border policy and its ability to enforce partnership standards. The Partido Popular is using the crisis for domestic political use, but its message to Rabat is clear: the EU expects Morocco to meet its commitments. Otherwise, the partnership and its benefits are at risk. The episode points to a tougher approach to Europe's southern border, with less tolerance for partners that fail to uphold their side of the agreement.
