Key Takeaways:
Ursula von der Leyen praised Spain’s handling of the 60,000 migrant arrivals in Ceuta, saying Spanish and Moroccan authorities efficiently prevented further illegal movement into mainland Europe.
She used the incident to call for stronger EU border controls, including physical barriers, better monitoring, early warning systems, dismantling smuggling networks, and faster deportations.
While describing Morocco as an important partner, von der Leyen warned the EU would not tolerate migration being used as political pressure and suggested a strategic discussion at the October European Council.(EurActiv) — Ursula von der Leyen has praised Pedro Sánchez’s handling of 60,000 migrant arrivals in Ceuta, while saying the episode highlights the need to strengthen EU migration policy.
“Both Spanish and Moroccan authorities have managed this efficiently and effectively, successfully preventing illegal movement onwards to mainland Spain and Europe,” von der Leyen wrote in a letter seen by Euractiv and dated 3 August.
The letter comes in response to one she received from the Spanish prime minister on Saturday, in which he railed against the “prejudice” and selfishness shown by fellow European leaders.
Spain’s actions, she added, had been crucial to preventing the situation from deteriorating further and avoiding “the tragic and unnecessary loss of even more lives”.
Von der Leyen also struck a careful balance in her missive, after tensions flared between EU leaders and the Commission’s own response to the short-lived migration crisis came under the spotlight.
In another letter to von der Leyen over the weekend, 22 leaders called on Spain to do a better job of managing the EU’s external border, and explicitly took aim at Sánchez’s pro-migration policy.
Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen, who coordinated that letter and were among Sánchez’s toughest critics, both said it should have consequences for Madrid’s Schengen cooperation.
Ceuta, a Spanish territory on the African continent, is subject to a specific regime under the Schengen area, and any migrants would have to pass border checks before making it to mainland Europe. Spanish authorities have stressed that no one who entered Ceuta has crossed into the rest of the bloc.
Push for tighter controls
In Monday’s letter, von der Leyen echoed the concerns raised by national leaders, arguing that the crisis should serve as a catalyst for tougher EU migration controls.
“From this incident, it is clear that we must do more to further strengthen our borders at critical points, both with vigilant monitoring and the use of physical barriers where needed,” she wrote.
“Going forward, I believe we need to double down and concentrate our efforts,” she added, pointing to five specific areas to improve: closer cooperation with local authorities; strengthening the EU’s external borders; building early warning systems; dismantling smuggling networks, and deporting migrants more swiftly.
She nonetheless argued that the bloc’s migration policy is already working.
“The evidence that this system works can be seen in the decrease in the number of illegal arrivals to Europe, down 55% over the past two years, and so far this year, down 37%.”
Rabat balance
Von der Leyen described Morocco as “an important strategic partner, particularly in our efforts to combat migrant smuggling and illegal migration.”
She said Brussels was seeking to strengthen relations with Rabat and could envisage boosting “financial support” to the kingdom.
However, without naming Morocco directly, she also warned that the EU would not accept attempts to use migration as a means of exerting pressure on a member state.
Von der Leyen floated the idea of leaders holding a “strategic discussion” at the next European Council meeting in October.
EU interior ministers are due to meet online on Tuesday to discuss the situation.