A ship belonging to Spanish non-governmental organisation Proactiva Open Arms has docked in the port of Barcelona with 60 migrants rescued off the Libyan coast on board.
It had previously been refused access to an Italian port despite being closer to the rescue site.
After a four-day crossing of the Mediterranean Sea, the 60 migrants - 50 men, five women and five minors, including three who were unaccompanied- will be examined by Red Cross workers.
They will then be transferred to shelters.
They "are doing well given the circumstances, there was no serious medical emergency and they're happy because we told them the government wanted them to come here," said Anabel Montes, the NGO's project manager.
The Open Arms ship arrived in Spain over two weeks after the Aquarius, a French NGO rescue vessel carrying 630 migrants, was given authorisation to dock in the eastern port of Valencia.
It had been refused access by Italy and Malta in what caused an international outcry.
Malta then let another charity rescue boat, Lifeline, dock with 233 migrants on board.
Faced with growing tensions in the European Union over the issue, member states struck a deal last Friday to stem the arrival of migrants.
The accord includes the setting up of secure centres for migrants within the EU, "disembarkation platforms" outside it, and the sharing out of refugees among member states.
