Madrid has formally requested that fellow European governments abstain from public criticism of Morocco concerning its role in the recent Ceuta migration crisis. This appeal for restraint was made during an online gathering of Interior Ministers on Tuesday.

The request came as numerous ministers voiced concerns about how approximately 72,000 individuals managed to enter the Spanish North African enclave in such a short timeframe. Spain’s diplomatic stance underscores the European Union’s consistent effort to preserve its alliance with Morocco, a nation deemed crucial for managing future migratory flows into Europe. Rabat also stands as a long-standing EU partner in counter-terrorism efforts and intelligence sharing.

When questioned about accountability for the crisis during a Tuesday press conference, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska commented, “There isn’t necessarily someone to blame.” Apart from a veiled remark from Spain’s Defense Minister, the Spanish government has largely refrained from publicly blaming Rabat.

Observations from a Western government official suggest that Morocco may have, at least implicitly, sanctioned the influx into Ceuta, potentially as a political message to Madrid.

The situation was further complicated by the spread of false claims on social media. These allegations falsely asserted a Spanish Supreme Court ruling had prohibited the immediate forced return of irregular migrants arriving by sea in Ceuta and Melilla.

Western officials also noted the swift and extensive reaction from Russian disinformation networks, which actively exploited the events unfolding at the Spanish-Moroccan border.

While German Chancellor Friedrich Merz explicitly urged Morocco to accept its responsibilities and facilitate the return of migrants, other EU leaders opted to avoid directly implicating the kingdom. This diplomatic caution persisted even as many questioned how such a significant border crossing could occur without at least a relaxation of Morocco’s typically stringent border controls.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated the principle that migrants should not be used as a political tool to pressure the EU, carefully avoiding any direct mention of Morocco. She also hinted at the possibility of increased financial aid for Morocco, as the European Commission explores strengthening ties between Brussels and Rabat.

The focus on disinformation

Rather than pointing fingers at key partners, Europe’s response has largely redirected attention towards the activities of human smugglers and the potential for social media disinformation to amplify criminal narratives.

This narrative aligns closely with Rabat’s own messaging. On Sunday, Morocco’s Interior Ministry spokesman, Rachid Khalfi, attributed the perception of easy, consequence-free entry into Europe via Ceuta to the “exploitation of the digital space.”

Morocco has also placed blame on the Spanish court decision that fueled speculation, asserting that Madrid should have anticipated the resulting consequences.

Magnus Brunner, the EU Commissioner for Migration, confirmed on Tuesday that Europol, the EU’s law enforcement support agency, is actively investigating potential disinformation campaigns linked to the crisis.

Throughout this week, EU ambassadors and ministers have engaged in discussions regarding the role of disinformation in the crisis, agreeing on the critical need for enhanced intelligence sharing.

The European External Action Service has initiated an inquiry into whether Russian entities sought to politically exploit this event across social media platforms.

Frontex, the European border agency, is also considering an expansion of its mandate, as part of an upcoming review by the European Commission, to include capabilities for monitoring disinformation spreading via social media.

However, no definitive independent studies or investigations have yet confirmed a coordinated disinformation campaign preceding last week’s events.