Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares visited Ceuta on Tuesday to assure everyone that Madrid has the situation under control, despite describing the border arrangements there as "the most unique and complex." He emphasized that Spain is in direct dialogue with Moroccan authorities to prevent another crisis, and he had a message for would-be migrants: "Do not risk their lives, their money or their futures by an endeavour that is doomed to fail." Albares was adamant that anyone crossing irregularly will not reach mainland Europe or stay in Ceuta, and he dismissed online disinformation about a court ruling, stating that his ministry's website clearly says "entering Ceuta or Melilla does not grant anyone the right to remain" and that "every last person" will be returned to their place of origin. He stressed, "No one has left the city for the mainland, nor can they, precisely for the reasons I explained regarding this double control border filter, and that the diplomatic work we are doing with Morocco is for the return of all those who have entered irregularly. Everything else is fake news, self-serving rumors."
However, Ceuta's conservative president Juan Jesús Vivas told reporters after meeting Albares that up to 10,000 people still remain in the city, a situation he called "unsustainable." While he welcomed the commitment to return everyone to Morocco, he lamented the lack of a guaranteed timeline for that to happen.
Meanwhile, the European Commission faced questions about what it could do to counter disinformation similar to what triggered the border run. A spokesperson said the bloc could offer support to Spain if requested, and that platforms are working on crisis protocols with an ad hoc escalation and cooperation mechanism. "We'll continue to be vigilant in our work with our agencies and the platforms to stifle criminal networks selling false promises at the cost of lives," they added.
In other news, new Eurostat data revealed that 4.41 million non-EU citizens who fled Ukraine had temporary protection status in the EU at the end of June 2026, up 0.6% (24,000) over the last year. Germany (1.3m), Poland (1m), and Czechia (400,000) host the largest groups, with adult women making up 43% of the total, minors around 30%, and adult men 27%.
France's EDF reported that a nuclear plant in the north shut down three reactors after a swarm of jellyfish clogged cooling pumps. Three reactors were taken offline on Monday, and output at a fourth was cut by half, leaving just one operating at full capacity. EDF assured that "this situation has no impact on the safety of the facilities, the safety of personnel, or the environment." The Gravelines plant, near Dunkirk, is Western Europe's largest with six 900-megawatt reactors, and it also had a jellyfish-related shutdown a year ago.
Italy's League party will propose a three-year levy on the country's ten largest banks in the 2027 budget, according to deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini. He said the League will ask for "a three-year contribution from the top ten Italian banks," suggesting that if annual profits come in at around €30bn, the government should seek "5% a year for three years."
Hungarian lawmakers are expected to elect former supreme court chief András Baka as the next head of state. Baka, who was fired under ex-premier Viktor Orbán and served on the European Court of Human Rights, is seen as a break with the Orbán era. Prime Minister Péter Magyar said, "After many years, Hungary will once again have a true head of state." Tisza has the two-thirds majority needed to elect Baka on the first round.
The commission also addressed the escalating border row between Spain and Italy, with both reinstating border controls. A spokesperson said the arrangements are "temporary," with no lasting effect on the Schengen area, but there's no hint they'll be lifted soon.
In Russia, the supreme court banned Yabloko, the country's only remaining anti-war party, from standing in September's elections. The court upheld a suit by the pro-Kremlin nationalist party Roblina, stripping voters opposed to the war of their last option. About a hundred supporters gathered outside the courthouse chanting "Shame! Shame!" Yabloko leader Nikolay Rybakov said the party would appeal, noting that about 40 activists face prosecution for opposing the war. The party's deputy leader, Maxim Kruglov, was jailed for seven years in June over social media posts.
Latvia announced it had discovered a tunnel under its border with Belarus and plans to combat networks helping migrants cross illegally. Interior minister Jānis Dombrava said border protection will be strengthened with closer cooperation and more intensive drone use. Lithuania also found a tunnel in July. Poland and the Baltics have long accused Belarus of weaponising irregular migration.
The UK's new European relations minister Hamish Falconer will talk with Ireland's Europe minister Thomas Byrne today, a key step to refresh post-Brexit talks. Ireland holds the rotating EU presidency and has made UK-EU relations a priority.
Romania's Cernavodă nuclear plant could shut down a second reactor in the next 48 hours due to falling Danube water levels, after the first reactor closed in late July. The government insists there will be no energy rationing, but imports will rise.
Ukraine's drone forces confirmed hitting a military base in Voronezh, an oil refinery in Orsk, a cargo ship in the Black Sea, and energy facilities in occupied territories.