Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Spain’s Interior Minister, has emphasized that the recent influx of migrants into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, located on Morocco’s coast, has not jeopardized the Schengen Area. His comments came after discussions with EU counterparts, amidst criticism Spain faced regarding its management of EU’s external borders.
“It is clear that the Schengen Area has not been compromised in any way during this crisis,” Grande-Marlaska stated on Tuesday. Ceuta, which lies across the Strait of Gibraltar from mainland Spain, has long been a focal point for migrants seeking entry into Europe, as reported by the BBC earlier in the crisis.
The city has a unique status under Schengen rules, requiring comprehensive border checks and document verification for all entries and exits to and from mainland Spain or the EU.
70,000 of 72,000 Migrants Have Returned to Morocco, Claims Madrid
During a press conference following a meeting of EU interior ministers, Grande-Marlaska remarked that all the nations involved were “constructive” and acknowledged Spain’s prompt response to the crisis. He indicated that approximately 70,000 of the estimated 72,000 migrants who illegally crossed into Ceuta have already returned to Morocco.
Spain is currently in the process of addressing the status of migrants who have yet to return, assuring that those without the right to remain in the Iberian nation will be sent back to Africa, the minister stated.
Additionally, he informed his EU counterparts that a total of 75 deceased bodies have been recovered, although he noted that this figure is still “preliminary.”
Following the meeting, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez expressed concerns over misinformation surrounding the crisis and the “interference” of other nations attempting to create division among EU countries. He reaffirmed France’s willingness to assist Spain in any possible manner and highlighted Paris’s decision to strengthen border controls with Spain to prevent “secondary movements,” including towards the United Kingdom.
