European Union interior ministers have been called to an emergency videoconference to address the fallout from the massive influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, comes as the bloc grapples with the political and operational implications of the crisis that saw nearly 50,000 individuals cross the border illegally on July 30.
Ireland, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, convened the session to draw lessons from the event and coordinate a response.
The gathering interrupts summer holidays for diplomats and ministers, underscoring the urgency with which Brussels is treating the situation.
The talks aim to establish a common strategy following the initial consultations that began among EU ambassadors on Monday.
The crisis has exposed deep divisions within the European Union over migration policy.