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French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez: "Spain does not have to leave the Schengen Area. That is absolutely out of the question." He says reinforcements at the Spanish-French border will last "for as long as necessary" and calls for the quick implementation of the Migration Pact.

Von der Leyen gives update on Ceuta crisis: - She confirms "not a single person reached mainland Spain or the rest of the EU" - She says "lessons learned" are needed to strengthen the common border system - She urges "solidarity and a united European response" to stop irregular migration

Interesting to see who did not sign it: - France: Macron shares some of Sánchez's views on migration, including opposition to outsourcing - Portugal: Spain's close neighbour - Ireland: neutral under EU presidency - Luxembourg: where Schengen is (?)

Letter signed by the leaders of 🇮🇹🇩🇰🇦🇹🇧🇪🇧🇬🇨🇾🇭🇷🇨🇿🇪🇪🇫🇮🇩🇪🇬🇷🇭🇺🇱🇻🇱🇹🇲🇹🇳🇱🇵🇱🇷🇴🇸🇮🇸🇰🇸🇪 Some of them asked for the suspension of the Schengen agreement with Spain. The letter reaffirms their willingess to reintroduce border checks, but also talks about solidarity and unity.

Just in: 22 EU leaders send a joint letter in response to the migratory crisis in Ceuta. "We cannot allow uncontrolled mass crossings, the instrumentalisation of migration or other hybrid threats to create the perception that illegal entry into the European Union is possible."

Pedro Sánchez has sent a letter to the EU institutions complaining about the political reaction of some member states to the migratory crisis in Ceuta. “In the current international context, the European Union cannot afford this kind of selfish, polarising and unlawful reaction.” 🧵

Update: Spain's security forces estimate that about 69,500 people have left Ceuta and returned to Morocco in the last 30 hours. No new arrivals were detected overnight. The death toll has risen to 60.

Spanish Foreign Minister: “The integrity of the Schengen Area is absolutely guaranteed.“

Italy has clarified that the border checks at airports will not affect EU citizens nor disrupt the travel season. They will be carried out randomly. As is often the case, the reintroduction of checks is but a headline-grabbing political signal.

In response to the Ceuta crisis, the Irish presidency has decided to convene: - A meeting of the Integrated Political Crisis Response (ICPR) mechanism on Saturday - A meeting of EU ambassadors (Coreper) on Monday To assess developments and coordinate.

Robert Fico: “I do not believe that excluding Spain from the Schengen Area would be the right solution. Just as we were prepared to assist France in combating wildfires, Slovakia should also adhere to its proven strategy of protecting the Schengen external borders at all costs.”

Italy confirms it has reintroduced border checks with Spain. The measure will affect flights and maritime transport, as Spain and Italy don’t have a land border. Reminder: Ceuta is subject to special rules under Schengen. None of the new arrivals has reached mainland Spain.

Update: over 48,300 people have returned from Ceuta to Morocco. About 1,700 people are still in Ceuta.

The New York Times has spoken with several Moroccan nationals who say they were encouraged to cross into Ceuta by the Moroccan authorities.

Pedro Sánchez hits back at those calling for Spain's expulsion from the Schengen Area: "Solidarity and empathy are optional. The respect for EU treaties is not."

Update: over 37,500 people have already returned from Ceuta to Morocco, according to the Spanish Interior Ministry. This represents 75% of all arrivals. Death toll rises to 57.

António Costa is one of the few European voices to express solidarity with Spain and also underline that migrants who arrive in Ceuta don't enjoy free movement in the Schengen Area. An important point that many have missed.

Ceuta crisis shatters European solidarity: As Spain denounces an attack on its sovereignty and a violation of its territorial integrity, other member states pile in to berate Spain, point fingers, issue bitter recriminations and ask for its expulsion from the Schengen Area.

The European Commission declines to say whether the migratory crisis in Ceuta qualifies as a case of state-sponsored instrumentalisation. The official line, right now, is to praise Morocco. "Moroccan authorities have been fully mobilised and cooperating very constructively."

The Commission says that, in principle, none of the Moroccan nationals who have entered Ceuta should qualify for international protection because Morocco is considered a safe third country under EU rules. "They have to be quickly processed and returned," senior official says.