# Sánchez Demands “Different Cooperation” from Morocco, Urges EU to Protect Ceuta and Melilla

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez walked a diplomatic tightrope on Thursday, addressing public anger over the Ceuta border crisis without triggering a rupture with Morocco. Appearing before Congress to explain his government's handling of the migrant surge that began on July 30, Sánchez acknowledged the frustration of Ceuta's residents while insisting that no evidence proves Moroccan authorities orchestrated the mass border crossing. “I am aware of the doubts and the indications,” Sánchez said. “But as president, I must manage this crisis with rigor and prudence. To this day, nobody has provided the government with proof that this massive entry into Ceuta was designed or executed by Moroccan authorities.” Sánchez pledged that whoever was responsible “will pay for it” if evidence emerges. He also called on Europe to help reinforce the Spanish status of Ceuta and Melilla, suggesting both cities should become permanent members of the European Committee of the Regions. “We want a good-neighbor relationship with Morocco because that serves the general interest,” he said. “But it is clear that after what happened, this cooperation must be different.” His comments came after a leaked police report suggested Moroccan gendarmes participated in facilitating the mass crossing, based on videos shared on social media. Sánchez rejected the report's conclusions, saying no official warnings predicted the scale of the influx. The prime minister announced he would declassify intelligence dossiers to prove that no prior alerts gave precise information about what was coming. “It is absurd to think the government was warned and did nothing deliberately,” he told opposition lawmakers. Sánchez also confirmed that Spain used official diplomatic channels to complain to Morocco on August 21, after two Moroccan ministers made “unacceptable declarations” about Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla. The government's immediate priority remains removing thousands of migrants, including minors, from the streets of Ceuta and accelerating administrative procedures to return as many as possible to Morocco. That process depends heavily on the cooperation of King Mohammed VI's government. Sánchez announced an investigation into why the National Center for Immigration and Borders did not send a report to Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska containing evidence about Moroccan police involvement. Later Thursday, Marlaska filed a formal complaint with judicial authorities over a judge's decision to restrict police investigators from sharing information with their superiors.