Pedro Sánchez defends the handling of the migrant crisis in Ceuta and calls for UN reform

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended, on Thursday, in New York, the way Spain is managing the migration crisis in Ceuta and rejected the idea of abandoning the rule of law in the face of an emergency situation. The speech was delivered during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.

Referring to the massive arrival of migrants from Morocco, recorded at the end of July in Ceuta, Sánchez stated that Spain would not turn migrants into enemies and would not break the law. He argued that the city's residents are demonstrating that such a crisis can be managed with decency and respect for human rights.

The Spanish prime minister criticized governments that, in his view, despise multilateral principles and warned against “reactionary” policies, without naming any states or leaders. Sánchez called for reforming the UN Security Council, eliminating the veto power of permanent members, and strengthening the International Criminal Court.

He also called for strict rules for major technology companies and the development of artificial intelligence. With António Guterres's term set to end on December 31, 2026, Sánchez advocated the election of a Latin American woman as UN secretary-general.