Von der Leyen calls on the EU for "united action" at borders after migrant influx in Ceuta
Kyiv • UNN
The President of the European Commission called for joint action after the influx of migrants into Spanish Ceuta, which sparked a dispute between Madrid and other EU countries. She emphasized the need to strengthen external borders and shared European responsibility.
President of the European Commission, the EU's executive body, Ursula von der Leyen on Monday called for "united action" on border security after an influx of migrants into the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta sparked a public dispute between Madrid and several European partners, reports UNN citing AFP.
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"From this incident, it is clear that we must do more to further strengthen our borders at critical points," von der Leyen wrote in a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, which AFP has seen.
"Protecting all our external borders is a shared European responsibility," she warned, calling for "vigilant monitoring and the use of physical barriers where necessary."
Von der Leyen praised Sanchez for the "swift resolution" of the crisis, which saw tens of thousands of people surge into Ceuta from Morocco, nearly all of whom have since left the country.
But the unprecedented scenes in Ceuta sparked acute tensions among the 27 member states of the European Union, with "migration hawks" Italy and Denmark calling for the suspension of Spain's membership in the Schengen free-movement zone.
Madrid firmly rejected what it called a "selfish" proposal, which is in any case legally impossible under EU rules, while calling for emergency talks between EU interior ministers to chart a way forward.
A video conference scheduled for Tuesday will be an opportunity to draw "lessons" from the episode in Ceuta, von der Leyen said, warning that the problems of illegal immigration require a "common European response, united action, and solidarity."
The head of the European Commission called on the bloc to "redouble efforts" in five areas: preventing illegal migration, primarily through cooperation with partner states; strengthening external borders; implementing early warning systems; dismantling migrant smuggling networks; and strengthening measures for the return of migrants.
Calling Tuesday's meeting a "first step," von der Leyen said she expects leaders to raise the issue at their next summit, currently scheduled for October.
The EU has significantly tightened its migration rules in recent months, notably allowing member states to send rejected asylum seekers to so-called "return centers" located outside the bloc's borders.