Friedrich Pürner, a non-attached MEP, has submitted a parliamentary question challenging the European Commission over contradictory reports on the number of migrants who entered Ceuta and whether they have all been returned to Morocco. The question, dated 5 August 2026, targets statements made by EU Internal Affairs and Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, who said on 31 July 2026 that practically all those who entered Ceuta had returned to Morocco and that no one had crossed into mainland Spain. Pürner contrasts this with reports from the Mayor-President of Ceuta, who said on 3 August 2026 that between 3,000 and 5,000 people were still in the city, and with local media reports of arrivals by speedboat and jet ski on the Spanish mainland, which is part of the Schengen area. The MEP asks the Commission to specify the data and sources behind Brunner's statement, whether the Commission stands by it or will correct it, and whether premature social media statements by Commissioners risk a loss of trust if proven wrong. The question is a formal parliamentary instrument, and the Commission is expected to respond within roughly six weeks; its answer will signal whether the Commission maintains its assessment or acknowledges discrepancies. Pürner's initiative reflects a broader concern about the reliability of official migration data and the communication of sensitive border security matters, with potential implications for public trust in EU institutions and for the credibility of migration policy. The question also touches on the accuracy of information provided to the public and the need for careful verification before making definitive statements on migration flows.
Source📩 Open question ↗
Asked byFriedrich Pürner (NI)