EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner urges stricter penalties for migrant smuggling after Ceuta crisis

European Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner used a special meeting of the European Parliament’s LIBE committee to call on the Parliament and Council to revive the proposed directive that would impose tougher punishments on human‑smuggling networks. He said the recent incident in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, where tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco arrived and many were returned, highlighted the need for stronger EU action.

Brunner added that the situation in Ceuta is now under control, the Schengen area was not breached and illegal migration into the EU has fallen sharply. He noted that EU agencies such as Frontex, Europol and the European Asylum Support Office are providing financial and operational assistance to Spain, and outlined a five‑point plan to improve border security, cooperation with partners, rapid return of illegal migrants and broader migration‑policy reforms.