Czech Republic joins EU states calling for emergency talks on Ceuta migration crisis

The Czech Republic has joined a group of EU member states calling for an emergency meeting of EU interior ministers following this week's migration crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa.

The appeal, signed by the presidents and prime ministers of the 22 countries, was published by the Italian government. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also separately asked EU leaders to convene an extraordinary meeting of interior ministers.

In their joint letter, the leaders said the European Union must not allow mass illegal border crossings, the use of migration as a form of hybrid pressure, or any situation that creates the impression that illegal entry into the bloc is possible. They stressed that member states have a responsibility to combat illegal migration.

The signatories said the developments of recent days require an immediate and coordinated European response and called on Ireland, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, to organize an extraordinary online meeting of EU interior ministers.