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EU countries call for talks over migrant influx into Spanish enclave

AFP
AFP - news@thelocal.com
EU countries call for talks over migrant influx into Spanish enclave
Spanish soldiers speak with a local police officer as they watch migrants sitting on the pavement prior to escorting them back to Morocco. Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP.

A majority of EU countries called on Saturday for emergency talks on the sudden inflow of tens of thousands of migrants into Spain's enclave of Ceuta in North Africa.

An open letter from the leaders of 22 of the EU's 27 members demanded the bloc's interior ministers have a video meeting "as a matter of urgency" to agree a speedy coordinated response, and to "prevent further uncontrolled crossings".

"We have a duty to effectively deter and relentlessly combat illegal migration," it said.

READ ALSO: Can an EU member state be kicked out of Schengen zone?

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The letter was initiated by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose country has temporarily suspended Schengen-area rules with Spain, and by her Danish counterpart, Mette Frederiksen, who said on Friday that the EU should consider suspending Schengen cooperation with Spain.

Among the other signatories are German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the prime ministers of Hungary, Sweden and Poland, but not the French and Portuguese leaders, whose countries directly border Spain.

READ ALSO: Danish PM calls for Spain to be suspended from Schengen agreement

"We cannot allow uncontrolled mass crossings, the instrumentalisation of migration or other hybrid threats to create the perception that illegal entry into the European Union is possible," it said.

"Such a perception would encourage further attempts, undermine confidence in our common migration policy and have repercussions for all Member States."

It suggested that "ministers should in particular consider enhanced Frontex support and the effectiveness of EU cooperation with Morocco."

"We take note that no unauthorized onward movements have been recorded towards Europe," it added.

Spain's interior ministry said Saturday that nearly all of the 60,000 migrants who breached the border since Wednesday had left and the situation in Ceuta was nearly back to normal.

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This comes as France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez on Saturday said his country would not seek Spain's suspension from Schengen rules, after tens of thousands of migrants entered Spain's enclave of Ceuta in North Africa.

"Spain does not need to leave the Schengen zone. It's absolutely not on the table. We have great cooperation with Spain," he told reporters.

His comments came a day after Italy announced that it had suspended for a month its Schengen deal with Spain allowing for visa-free movement between borders.

"We are not asking for Spain's suspension from Schengen," he added.

France has stepped up controls at its southern border with Spain, Nunez said.

Spanish officials have stressed that, under Schengen Area rules, Ceuta and another Spanish enclave in North Africa, Melilla, have specific procedures in place applying border controls for anybody boarding air or sea transport to mainland Europe.

Irregular entry into Ceuta does not confer a right to remain in Spain, travel to the mainland, or move freely throughout Europe, they said.

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Comments (5)

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ML
Some folks seem to keep reiterating that Ceuta is physically in North Africa. The problem with this statement is that it's totally irrelevant. It's still sovereign territory of Spain. Illegal migration is illegal migration
Anna Sepranza
Facts are useful. Ceuta is an enclave INSIDE Morocco, owned by Spain as a colonial legacy. As your articles says: "under Schengen Area rules, Ceuta and another Spanish enclave in North Africa, Melilla, have specific procedures in place applying border controls for anybody boarding air or sea transport to mainland Europe.Irregular entry into Ceuta does not confer a right to remain in Spain, travel to the mainland, or move freely throughout Europe". But let's not let facts get in the way of a panic about invasion by refugees. Surely Italy understands how dangerous these panics can be? No-one suggested Italy be kicked out of Schengen when Lampedusa was being "overrun" by African migrants.
Shahan
The sudden surge especially when Spain was protesting against US and Israel, speaks volumes of what may be happening behind the scenes. Stay united EU. Otherwise one by one countries will face problems in EU with these outside countries
Jack (the real jack)
The USA might offer some lessons on how to address such matters. Wondering what readers of this newspaper think about the breach. Good news? Acceptable? a significant concern? Jack (the real jack).

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