Spanish Prime Minister calls for urgent European meeting after migration crisis in (Ceuta)
Madrid, Aug 1 (KUNA) -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on Saturday for an urgent meeting of European Union interior ministers to discuss the migration crisis following the entry of approximately 50,000 irregular migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, and to lay the foundations for a unified European response to such situations.
In a letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Sanchez criticized the stances and reactions of some European governments, which he said had "handled the crisis with preconceived notions and political interests," a move that contradicts European law, international humanitarian law, and the principles of European solidarity.
He clarified that Spain managed to regain control of the Ceuta borders within less than 48 hours, provide humanitarian aid, and return the "vast majority" of the irregular migrants, preventing their movement to other European countries. This was achieved through coordination with Morocco and "minimal" support from member states.
Sanchez added that some calls to suspend Spain’s participation in the Schengen Area contradict European law and the principle of solidarity among member states. He emphasized that the cities of Ceuta and Melilla are part of the Schengen Area, albeit under a unique and special regulatory framework in Europe. He noted that strict monitoring procedures are applied when leaving these territories, whether by sea or air, and that travelers are subject to a dual-check system since Spain joined Schengen. He pointed out that irregular entry into these two Spanish territories "does not grant the right to stay in Spain, travel to the Iberian Peninsula, or move freely in Europe."
On another note, the Spanish Prime Minister highlighted that his country is the only EU member state sharing a land border with Africa. He stated that the migration policies adopted by the Spanish government in recent years have significantly reduced the number of irregular arrivals and "made Spain’s external borders the second safest in the European Union."
Warning against the current international context, Sanchez cautioned that "the European Union cannot tolerate polarized and illegal reactions to crises of this nature." He urged the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union to convene a video conference of interior ministers to coordinate a joint European response, stressing that "protecting the EU’s external borders is a shared responsibility for all member states."
In this regard, he recalled the support Spain had provided to its European partners during previous migration crises, including the crisis at the border with Belarus in 2021 and the Italian Lampedusa island crisis in 2023, calling for his country to be treated with the same level of solidarity.
Sanchez had previously noted in a post on the social media platform X yesterday that, according to data from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) between 2021 and 2026, 478,600 irregular migrants entered via Italy, 340,600 via the Western Balkans, and 259,800 via Greece. In comparison, 234,760 entered via Spain, and only 48,000 via the Eastern border.
This message follows the entry of approximately 50,000 irregular migrants into the Spanish city of Ceuta in less than 48 hours, marking the largest migration wave the city has witnessed since 2021.
The Spanish Ministry of the Interior stated in a press release that more than 48,000 people returned to Morocco on Friday, while the death toll rose to 67, most of whom drowned while attempting to reach the city by swimming. (End) H.N.D./A.B.K.
