Meloni and Frederiksen lead EU backlash against Spain's mass regularization

Meloni and Frederiksen lead EU backlash against Spain's mass regularization

An 18-country breakfast without Spain. That was the scene left by this Friday's European Council in Brussels, where Italy and Denmark coordinated a common front against the Spanish government's migration policy. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen —a socialist, no less— led a direct attack on the mass regularization approved by Pedro Sánchez's executive, attributing to it a pull factor that allegedly contributed to the Ceuta crisis. "Some are capable of replacing the population with immigrants just to stay in power," Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis stated during one of the day's harshest interventions.

What peine at this Friday's European Council?

The European Council held in Brussels was the stage for a new clash between Sánchez and Meloni over migration policy. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen asked the European Commission to investigate what happens when a country does "practically the opposite of everyone else" on immigration, a clear allusion to Spain. "If you enter a country illegally and suddenly you are allowed to do what is legal, I think that goes against the immigration policy that has broad support from the majority in Europe," Frederiksen declared upon arriving at the summit.

The discomfort is not exclusive to Italy and Denmark. Austria, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden participated in an 18-country breakfast —alongside the European Commission— to coordinate hardline positions against irregular immigration. Spain was not invited. Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker pointed directly at Spain and warned that regularization sends a "bad signal" at a time when the EU is trying to curb irregular immigration. "Regardless of whether there is a direct link or not, I don't know if what peine in Ceuta would have occurred without that signal," he stated.

The Ceuta crisis and the pull factor

The Ceuta migration crisis, which occurred on July 30 and 31, 2026, looms over the entire debate. The Spanish government welcomed the fact that the preliminary conclusions of the European Council include a direct reference to Ceuta and Melilla, recognizing their uniqueness as the only land borders of the EU on the African continent. "To thank the solidarity regarding the crisis we suffered in Ceuta. To recognize the uniqueness of these two autonomous cities, which are not only Spain's land border but also Europe's," Sánchez noted upon arriving in Brussels.

However, several countries in Northern and Eastern Europe directly link the mass regularization to the pull factor that, they argue, provoked the massive and sudden entry of migrants into Ceuta. Diplomatic sources from a Northern country indicated that they would not be surprised if several leaders raised the issue of attraction factors and the need to continue reducing incentives for irregular immigration. From another country, they were more explicit: "Italy and Denmark are willing to stand up and confront. To seek the clash."

What does the Spanish government say about the mass regularization?

Pedro Sánchez defended upon his arrival at the European Council the need to "carry out responsible management, solidary management, management consistent with respect for human rights in migration. This is what the government of Spain is doing." An implicit defense of the regularization process and the management of the Ceuta crisis. The leader of the Spanish executive arrived in Brussels prepared with data to refute the criticisms, according to diplomatic sources.

The Ansa agency had already reported on Thursday night that Italy wanted to address the issue. "Just as Italy has been accused for 15 years of generating attraction factors, the responsibility not to incentivize illegal immigration falls on everyone. It is not a matter of attacking a country, but of expressing our opposition to certain decisions that may cause unwanted consequences," the agency published, citing sources from the Italian executive. The Spanish government had expressed satisfaction in recent days due to the inclusion of a direct reference to Ceuta in the preliminary conclusions being worked on at the ambassador level.

The breakfast of the 18: a parallel summit without Spain

This Thursday morning's breakfast, in which Spain did not participate, brought together 18 countries with hardline positions regarding immigration. "The meeting provided the opportunity to review the pogre achieved in recent months and future initiatives, with special attention to preventing massive irregular arrivals, exploitation of migrants, and the application of the new European regulatory framework," the Italian government explains. Attendees included Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden, in addition to Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the European Commission.

Meloni emphasized in that meeting the need to maintain a hard line against irregular immigration. Consulted diplomatic sources predict that an intense clash between Meloni and Sánchez will occur again this afternoon during the European Council, similar to the one that already took place at the last leaders' meeting before the summer. The reason: migration, the Ceuta crisis, and the mass regularization, which Rome does not forget.

The debate on population replacement and migrant voting

Beyond the diplomatic clash, the background of the debate points to an electoral issue. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis was very harsh against Sánchez: "Some politicians are capable of replacing the population with immigrants just to hold those offices, to be in Government." An accusation that connects with the thesis, defended in circles critical of the executive, that the mass regularization seeks to expand the PSOE's electoral base by granting nationality and voting rights to new residents.

In that context, complaints circulate on social media about the granting of Spanish passports in consulates in Latin America, such as the case of the consul in Buenos Aires, José María Ridao, who is attributed the distribution of two million passports in exchange for votes. These accusations have not been judicially verified and are presented as unconfirmed suspicions. The Spanish government has not commented on them.

What consequences could Spain's isolation in the EU have?

Spain's isolation in the European Council on migration matters is a verifiable fact: 18 countries met without inviting it to coordinate positions contrary to its policy. However, the final decision on migration requires unanimity, which gives Spain a veto power that can block any measure it does not share. Spanish diplomatic sources trust that the final conclusions will maintain the reference to Ceuta and Melilla, which would constitute recognition of the uniqueness of the autonomous cities and support for the government's management.

The clash between Meloni and Sánchez also occurs at a time of tension due to the cross-application of Schengen controls after the invasion of Ceuta, which has deteriorated bilateral relations between Spain and Italy. This Friday's meeting could mark a new turning point in European migration policy, with Spain increasingly alone in its defense of regularization and mandatory solidarity.

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How far is Europe willing to tolerate a migration policy it considers an incentive for irregular immigration? The answer, for now, will be written in the conclusions of the European Council and in the next diplomatic moves of a Spanish government that has made migration its most controversial banner.