In a report published on the 22nd of October, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) warned that the migration crisis in Ceuta has put the observance of human rights at the bloc’s external borders to the test, reports Politico.The Vienna-based FRA warned that there is a serious risk to the observance of human rights, noting that the sudden arrival of a crowd of thousands of migrants in Ceuta at the end of July challenged the balance between protecting fundamental rights and safeguarding the EU’s external borders. In late July, more than 70,000 migrants arrived in Ceuta from Morocco in less than 48 hours, raising questions about how the EU should respond to sudden, large-scale movements—situations that might be deliberately orchestrated or exploited against the bloc. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has promised the development of guidelines for emergency responses, which would allow for a clearly defined, time-limited degree of flexibility in the application of standard procedures.Greece has called for the suspension of the acceptance of asylum applications during emergency situations such as the one in Ceuta. This, however, would be tantamount to the expulsion of migrants—an action prohibited by international law. Several countries have expressed support for Greece’s proposal, while others have questioned whether such measures should be discussed at the EU level rather than by individual member states.In its report, the FRA noted that any emergency measures must comply with EU and international law, which guarantee the right to seek asylum and include the principle of non-refoulement.During a meeting with EU leaders last week, von der Leyen stated that a draft of the European Commission’s guidelines would be developed by the end of the year. She emphasized that while Europe will always uphold its values and fundamental rights, it will never compromise on the issue of border security.The FRA report also highlights other fundamental rights concerns at the EU’s external borders. These include the implementation of mechanisms to monitor compliance with rights as part of migration reforms, restrictions imposed on search-and-rescue organizations, and investigations into human rights violations at the borders. According to the agency’s data, 12 EU countries initiated 322 criminal investigations between 2020 and 2025, yet only nine of these resulted in a verdict. Such a gap could be perceived as a sign of impunity, which undermines the rule of law.
Serious threats to human rights at the bloc’s borders
