EU Nations Rally Behind Spain After Ceuta Migration Crisis

Spain and other European Union countries moved to ease tensions on Tuesday after a surge of migrants into the North African enclave of Ceuta exposed deep divisions within the 27-member bloc over migration policies.

EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner said the crisis had tested Europe’s border controls, ability to withstand misinformation and the level of solidarity among member states.

Speaking after three hours of discussions with EU interior ministers, Brunner said Europe had successfully overcome the challenge.

“Europe, I think, has definitely passed this test,” he said. “It was a crisis, but now fortunately, it has been resolved.”

Spanish authorities said they had acted quickly to return migrants who crossed into Ceuta from neighbouring Morocco, with about 70,000 of the 72,000 arrivals sent back as of Tuesday.

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The sudden influx, which saw thousands of people attempt to enter the Spanish enclave and resulted in dozens of deaths, intensified debate over migration across Europe.

Right-wing politicians in Europe and the United States used the crisis to argue that the continent was facing uncontrolled immigration, while critics questioned Spain’s handling of migration.

The episode also left Madrid facing pressure within the EU, as 22 of the bloc’s 27 member states supported a joint statement calling for stronger measures to tackle illegal migration and raising concerns over national migration approaches.

The government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has backed a more open approach to migration than many EU counterparts, namely hardliners like Italy and Denmark which advocated suspending Spain from the Schengen free-travel area over the Ceuta crisis.

Madrid firmly rejected that notion – in any case impossible under EU law – with Sanchez writing to the heads of the EU’s institutions at the weekend to berate the “selfish” stance of fellow member states.

‘Communication’ falls short

The stage was set for an acrimonious showdown on Tuesday but ultimately capitals sought to play down their divisions, with Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska calling the tone “absolutely constructive”.

“All member states, without exception, affirmed their solidarity with Spain,” echoed French minister Laurent Nunez – whose country had distanced itself from the 22-nation initiative it saw as exploiting the crisis for political ends.

In the hardline camp, Denmark declared itself “very satisfied” with Madrid’s crisis response, although its immigration minister Morten Bodskov warned “these events show that it is absolutely crucial that we have control over the EU’s borders”.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has openly attacked Madrid’s migration policies, specifically a push to grant legal status to undocumented migrants already in the country.

But her interior minister Matteo Piantedosi began his address by expressing “sincere solidarity” with Madrid – before doubling down on a tough line.

Spurred by Italy among others, the EU has significantly tightened its migration rules in recent months, including by allowing member states to send failed asylum seekers to so-called “return hubs” located outside the bloc’s borders.

According to a transcript shared by his office, Piantedosi argued “the time has now come” for EU countries to set up return centres on the model of a deal between Rome and Albania.

And he suggested the EU should use trade measures to pressure Morocco – which he accused of “failing to cooperate on repatriation, enjoys significant advantages in its trade relations with Europe”.

A statement following the meeting said ministers commended Spain for its “swift and effective” response, noting that “there has been no onward movement to mainland Spain or other member states”.

But they also conceded “communication” at such moments could be made “more coherent”, in a tacit acknowledgement that on that front, the European response this time around fell short.

AFP