Spain: Cooperation with Morocco contributed to the return of approximately 90 percent of migrants who entered Ceuta

Madrid, Sept 3 (KUNA) -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stressed on Thursday the necessity of maintaining good-neighborly relations with Morocco, noting that close cooperation between the two countries contributed to the return of approximately 90 percent of migrants who entered Ceuta illegally within just two days. Speaking before the Spanish Congress of Deputies, Sanchez said that “none of Spain’s intelligence agencies had anticipated the scale of the influx,” which reached around 70,000 people, adding that warnings preceding the events were limited to reports of an increase in attempts to swim to Ceuta. He emphasized that “there is no evidence” proving that Moroccan authorities planned or executed the mass influx of migrants to Ceuta on July 30 and 31. The socialist prime minister announced measures to strengthen Ceuta’s borders, including extending sea barriers, expanding surveillance systems, thermal cameras, and drones, as well as requesting a permanent presence of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) at the port and border area. He also pledged an additional 100 million euros ($116 million) for Ceuta, along with a package of aid and investments worth 309 million euros ($358.5 million). In this context, he noted that King Felipe VI of Spain will visit Ceuta and Melilla in the coming weeks “to demonstrate full commitment” to the two cities. This follows a statement by Francisco Pardo, Director General of the Police, who announced that a report prepared by the National Center for Immigration and Borders of the National Police, at the request of a judge at the National Court, exonerated Morocco from involvement in planning or executing the crossing of more than 70,000 migrants from Morocco to Ceuta last July. Sanchez also confirmed last week that only about 5,000 illegal migrants remained in Ceuta after the mass influx wave, noting that Spanish authorities are working to provide the legal framework to repatriate all migrants still in the city, with 141 people having lost their lives in attempts to reach it. (End) H.N.D./T.M.A.