The European Parliament has blamed Pedro Sanchez’s mass migrant regularisation for creating a ‘pull effect’ before almost 80,000 people crossed into Ceuta.

MEPs approved a non-binding resolution on Thursday describing the Spanish enclave as having been ‘invaded’ during the unprecedented migration crisis of July 30 and 31.

The strongly worded text also condemned the alleged use of irregular migration as an instrument of ‘hybrid warfare’ and demanded urgent action from Spanish and European authorities.

It passed in Strasbourg with 339 votes in favour, 225 against and 16 abstentions.

‘Ceuta, with a resident population of approximately 84,500 inhabitants, has been invaded and has seen its reception facilities, health services and infrastructure brought to the brink of collapse,’ the resolution states.

MEPs condemned the illegal entries from Morocco and said strengthening the protection of the EU’s land and maritime borders around Ceuta must now be treated as a priority.

The resolution also pointed directly to the Sanchez government’s extraordinary regularisation of undocumented migrants.

It supported a letter signed by 22 EU leaders which identified the policy as a potential attraction factor for irregular migration.

The Parliament warned that mass uncontrolled crossings must never create the impression that entering the EU illegally will eventually result in legal residency.

Such a perception, MEPs said, ‘encourages further attempts and undermines confidence in the European Union’s common migration policy’.

The text added that national policies such as mass regularisations could not be adopted without considering the consequences for other Schengen countries and the EU as a whole.

Another amendment expressing ‘deep concern’ about the large-scale regularisation introduced by the Sanchez government also passed.

It said the measure created a ‘pull effect’ and sent the wrong message both to potential migrants and to criminal people-smuggling networks.

Right-wing groups backed resolution

The text was drafted by the centre-right European People’s Party and received the group’s full support.

It was also backed by some members of the liberal Renew group and all three of the Parliament’s far-right blocs: Patriots for Europe, which includes Vox; the European Conservatives and Reformists; and Europe of Sovereign Nations.

The Socialists and Democrats voted against it.

S&D leader and PSOE MEP Iratxe Garcia had reportedly made avoiding direct criticism of the Spanish government a ‘red line’ during negotiations.

The Left and the Greens also opposed the resolution, alongside some liberal MEPs, including the PNV’s Oihane Agirregoitia.

The result means the Parliament has formally adopted one of the most severe institutional criticisms of Sanchez’s handling of migration since the Ceuta crisis began.

However, the resolution is not legally binding and does not itself force Spain or the European Commission to alter their policies.