Ceuta: EU calls borders a 'shared European responsibility'
The European Commission has offered Morocco more support at the border to Ceuta and Melilla, and called for "united action" from the bloc on border
The European Commission has offered Morocco more support at the border to Ceuta and Melilla, and called for "united action" from the bloc on border security. Its interior ministers will discuss the issue on Tuesday. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has told Spain's prime minister that border security is a "shared European responsibility" and suggested Brussels could provide more assistance to Morocco. This comes as Spain tries to return the last of tens of thousands of people who swam around or otherwise breached the border to the North African exclave of Ceuta last week. Offials installed an additional 500-meter barrier near the border post after thousands swam or waded around this entrance point Image: Jorge Guerrero/AFP European Union interior ministers will convene for an emergency video meeting on Tueday to discuss potential responses. The scenes had led to friction betwen EU members and to Italy and France implementing temporary border controls, even though it's not possible to travel from Ceuta to the mainland without providing identification. What did von der Leyen say in her letter to Spain's prime minister? Von der Leyen wrote to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday, which was soon seen by several news agencies, calling for "united action" on border security within the bloc. "From this incident it is clear that we must do more to further strengthen our borders at critical points," she wrote. "The protection of all our external borders is a shared European responsibility," von der Leyen said, calling for vigilant monitoring and the use of physical barriers where needed. She commended Sanchez on his "swift handling" of the situation, with the vast majority of the roughly 50,000 people having already returned across the border to Morocco.
Ceuta's top government official Juan Jesus Vivas estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 people remained in the city, with the Spanish governemnt's delegate offering a slightly lower estimate. Von der Leyen also praised Morocco as an important security partner Image: Jon Nazca/REUTERS Von der Leyen also raised the prospect of intensified cooperation with and assistance for Morocco if necessary when it came to the Spanish coastal exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. "Morocco is an important strategic partner, particularly in our efforts to combat migrant smuggling and illegal migration," von der Leyen wrote. "In cooperation with Spain, especially on anything related to Ceuta and Melilla, we could enhance border management early-warning systems and improve our technical and financial support to Morocco. EU interior ministers' video conference set for Tuesday The sudden large-scale rush across Ceuta's border starting on Thursday triggered sharp tensions among the EU's members states, with France announcing temporary border checks. Migration-averse governments or ministers in Italy, Denmark and Finland even called for Spain to be suspended from the Schengen free-travel area, while right-wing opposition politicians around the bloc were often even more vocal. Madrid responeded critically to what it called a "selfish" response from some partners, and called for emergency talks among European interior minister to chart a way forward. Von der Leyen said Tuesday's talks would be a "first step," promising the issue would also feature in October's EU leaders' summit. What led to the rush into Ceuta, after months of reduced migration? The EU has significantly tightened its migration rules in recent months, in steps that have led to a marked reduction in irregular migration into the bloc more generally.
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