Around 80,000 people appeared at the external border in Ceuta.

Omissions

• The most precise figure found is 78,000 migrants crossing, cited by the Ceuta mayor-president and reported by the BBC — not an exact 80,000.
• No primary official Spanish government/Interior Ministry source stating the exact figure was located; the available figures come from secondary sources citing local authorities.
• Estimates vary: CNN (31 July 2026) reported that 'most of those 50,000 to 60,000 people who attempted the crossing had returned to Morocco', a lower and differently-scoped figure than the 78,000 crossing figure.
• The claim refers to people crossing/reaching the border on 30 July 2026, a period before the session date, so the data was knowable to the MEP.

Sources

• SecondaryBBC News — Thousands of migrants still in Ceuta after border crisis"The Spanish territory's mayor-president also says 100 deaths occurred as a result of 78000 migrants crossing from neighbouring Morocco."
• SecondaryUK House of Commons Library — Ceuta: Migrant crossings and European reaction (research briefing CBP-10987)"At the end of July 2026, over 70,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish North African territory of Ceuta from Morocco without authorisation."
• SecondaryCNN — Spanish leader slams 'selfish' EU response as death toll rises"Most of those 50,000 to 60,000 people who attempted the crossing had returned to Morocco by Friday evening, Spanish authorities said."