Following the latest irregular migration surge from Morocco into the Spanish-administered city of Ceuta, a joint call has emerged within the European Union to tighten border security. Twenty-two EU member states, including Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Greece, sent an official request to Brussels.
The letter, addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, was also signed by Denmark, Belgium, Finland, Czechia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Latvia, Estonia, Hungary, Sweden, the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, Malta and Austria.
The letter stressed that uncontrolled mass crossings must not be allowed and that the impression must not be created that irregular entry into the EU is possible. While noting that recent developments required a swift and coordinated response, it welcomed the cooperation between Spain and Morocco to ensure the rapid return of irregular migrants and expressed the hope that the situation would be brought fully under control with EU support.
The 22 countries also called for an urgent meeting of EU interior ministers to discuss concrete steps to combat irregular migration.
Meanwhile, irregular migration attempts from the northern Moroccan city of Fnideq towards Ceuta have intensified in recent days. Moroccan security forces stepped up measures along the border and began preventing crowds from approaching the barbed wire. According to observations by an AA correspondent, tensions occasionally flared between security forces and groups trying to cross illegally. Some individuals set vehicles on fire near the border crossing, while security forces removed many people from the area. Moroccan authorities have not made a detailed statement on the irregular migration movements.
According to information from Spanish security sources, approximately 69,500 irregular migrants who had crossed from Morocco to Ceuta returned to Moroccan territory. The death toll during the events rose to 67.
Ceuta and Melilla are located on Morocco's northern coast and are under Spanish administration. Rabat demands the return of these two cities.
