Madrid: Spain and Morocco agree to return migrants who entered Ceuta illegally

Madrid, July 30 (KUNA) -- Spain said on Thursday that it had reached an agreement with Morocco to enhance security coordination and joint efforts to contain the flow of irregular migration into the city of Ceuta, and to accelerate the implementation of measures to return individuals who entered the city illegally. The Spanish Ministry of the Interior stated in a press release that the two countries agreed to review and activate the necessary procedures to hand over to Moroccan authorities migrants who have entered Ceuta, a Spanish territory, illegally, as soon as possible, amid a rise in the number of arrivals in recent hours and days. The statement noted that cooperation between Madrid and Rabat “covers all areas, including migration management,” adding that “migrant smuggling networks exploit a court ruling in Spain to encourage the flow of irregular migrants.” The agreement comes as Ceuta has witnessed thousands of migrants crossing by swimming from the Moroccan coast, prompting local authorities to call on the central government to declare a state of national emergency and assume unified management of the crisis. The Spanish Interior Minister is scheduled to travel to Ceuta to assess the situation and oversee measures taken to address the growing pressure on the border. (End) H.N.D. / M.A.A.