France, Oct. 2 -- The talks in Luxembourg were EU ministers' first in-person meeting since this summer's migrant rush to Ceuta tested European border security.

The influx of 70,000 migrants crossing over from Morocco in late July triggered a diplomatic spat between Spain and Italy, whose anti-immigration government has been pushing the EU to take a harder line.

At Thursday's meeting, the EU Council gave final approval to tougher new rules "enabling more effective returns" for people with no legal right to stay in the EU, a statement said.

They allow member states to impose a broader range of penalties on people who fail to follow the order to leave and authorise special measures for those who are deemed to pose a security risk, includi...