EU backs Spain after 72,000 crossed into Ceuta in 2 days
What's new: After emergency talks, EU ministers endorsed Madrid's response as Italy kept extra checks on flights from Spain.
European Union interior ministers rallied behind Spain on Tuesday after a mass migrant crossing into Ceuta left at least 86 people dead and triggered a political clash over border controls. Spain's interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, said about 72,000 migrants entered the North African territory between July 30 and 31, and roughly 70,000 have since been returned to Morocco. The meeting followed criticism from Italy and other governments, with Rome temporarily tightening checks on air travelers from Spain under Schengen rules. EU commissioner Magnus Brunner called the episode a test of Europe's border resilience, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez rebuked governments he said were exploiting the crisis.