Belgium: The (Ceuta) Crisis is a European Issue Requiring Coordination with Spain and Morocco

Brussels, July 31 (KUNA) -- Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot affirmed today that his country is closely monitoring the situation in the Spanish city of Ceuta, considering that “the pressures faced by a member state located on the EU’s external border constitute a European issue, not merely a Spanish one.” In a post on his official X account, Prevot stated that Spain, under such circumstances, must ensure the protection of its borders and be able to rely on the involvement of both European and Moroccan authorities. He stressed that safeguarding Europe’s external borders is a priority for the Belgian government, emphasizing that border control, adopting a firmer stance toward irregular migrants, and dismantling the business model of human smugglers do not contradict a humanitarian approach but rather constitute a fundamental condition for it. Prevot added that Spanish authorities, whom he contacted earlier today, along with the European Commission, are taking necessary measures to manage the situation in coordination with Morocco, including mechanisms for returning individuals who crossed the border illegally, as well as voluntary returns to Morocco, which appear to have already begun. Earlier today, official Spanish television announced that nearly 50,000 migrants had entered the Spanish Crown territory of Ceuta irregularly over the past days and hours, marking the largest migration crisis the city has witnessed since 2021. (End) A.R.N. / N.A.A.