Spain has called on its European Union partners to demonstrate greater solidarity in addressing the migration crisis in the autonomous city of Ceuta, with Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares criticizing the response of some member states to the recent surge in irregular migration.
Speaking in an interview with public broadcaster RTVE, Albares said that "there were European governments that failed to rise to the occasion" during the crisis. He argued that Spain had consistently stood by its European partners during previous emergencies and expected the same level of support in return.
"That is precisely what we are asking of the rest of the Europeans," Albares said.
The foreign minister also rejected suggestions that Spain's North African enclaves pose a risk to the EU's border-free travel area, stressing that Ceuta and Melilla "have never posed a threat to the integrity of the Schengen Area."
Albares praised Morocco's cooperation in managing the crisis, saying Rabat had worked from the outset to stem the flow of migrants and facilitate their return.
"From the very beginning, Morocco offered its assistance in trying to prevent this flow of people and, above all, to ensure their immediate return," he said. "The overwhelming majority of those who entered have already returned to Morocco, and Morocco continues to offer this assistance."
The migration surge unfolded in late July, when tens of thousands of irregular migrants reached Ceuta by swimming across the border or bypassing the breakwater separating the Spanish enclave from Morocco. The Spanish government responded by deploying military personnel to reinforce security in the city.
The humanitarian toll has been significant, with at least 72 people reported dead while attempting to reach Ceuta. Spanish authorities believe that the vast majority of migrants who entered the enclave have since returned to Morocco.
By Vafa Guliyeva
