Spain says 70,000 migrants returned to Morocco as EU pledges support
Spain reports nearly 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta since last Thursday, with about 70,000 returning to Morocco as the EU backs Madrid’s response.
Key Takeaways
AIThe Spanish government has announced that nearly 72,000 migrants entered the city of Ceuta since last Thursday, with around 70,000 of them having already returned to Morocco. The European Union has expressed its support for Madrid's measures and pledged to strengthen early warning mechanisms to address migration crises.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that the Spanish National Intelligence Center had not issued any prior warning about the possibility of a migration crisis of this scale, which resulted in the deaths of more than 80 people attempting to cross the border.
His remarks came after an extraordinary meeting of EU interior ministers, held via video conference at the request of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and supported by 22 member states. Participants in the meeting expressed their full solidarity with Spain and affirmed their commitment to developing European early warning and response systems for such crises.
Grande-Marlaska described the meeting as "highly constructive," noting that participating countries praised the speed and effectiveness of the Spanish authorities' response, even though some had previously voiced concerns about risk management at Europe's southern borders.
The minister explained that Ceuta holds a special status within the Schengen area, where no one is permitted to leave for the rest of Spanish or European territory without undergoing thorough travel document checks.
Grande-Marlaska confirmed that intelligence agencies had received no information suggesting a repeat of the May 2021 scenario, when around 10,000 people entered Ceuta within a few hours. He added that, had such information been available, it would have reached the highest levels of government.
Meanwhile, Spain's Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration and government spokesperson, Elma Saiz, announced an additional €25 million in funding for Ceuta to support the care of unaccompanied migrant minors, in addition to €5.5 million previously allocated in July.