Italy, Denmark and 20 other countries requested this Saturday an extraordinary meeting of European Union (EU) Interior Ministers to analyze the migratory crisis in Ceuta and agree on a coordinated response and immediate actions for the control of the external border.
“This meeting should allow a common assessment of the situation and an agreement on a coordinated European response, including the rapid mobilization of available EU instruments and the necessary support to Spain to restore effective control of the Union’s external border and prevent new uncontrolled crossings,” these countries state in a letter addressed to the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, to the President of the Commission, Úrsula Von der Leyen, and to Ireland, the rotating presidency of the EU.
The letter addressed to the EU leadership, promoted by the Prime Ministers of Italy and Denmark, is also signed by Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia and Sweden.
The letter specifically requests the reinforcement of Frontex support and the effectiveness of EU cooperation with Morocco.
After expressing “deep concern about recent events at the European Union’s external border in Ceuta,” these countries are determined “to prevent human traffickers from undermining the integrity of the Union’s external borders.”
They acknowledge that a recent ruling by the Spanish Supreme Court has been used to trigger this attack “and abuse our migration and asylum system.”
“We have the duty to effectively deter and relentlessly combat irregular migration, coordinating our actions, strengthening our external borders and addressing all policies that may serve as pull factors, such as the regularization of a large number of irregular migrants,” the letter states.
They emphasize that Union countries cannot allow “mass uncontrolled crossings”, the instrumentalization of migration or other hybrid threats that create the perception that illegal entry into the European Union is possible and that it can become a legal stay.
The immediate European response to the Ceuta crisis
“The events of recent days require an immediate and coordinated European response. We welcome the close cooperation between Spain and Morocco to ensure the rapid return of migrants who entered illegally and that a large number of them have already returned. We trust that, with the support of the European Union, the current situation will be fully controlled,” they add.
Italy, Denmark and the signatory countries say they are willing to “take all necessary measures, in accordance with Union Law and the Schengen Borders Code, to safeguard public order and address the risks arising from secondary movements, including through the strengthening or reintroduction of temporary controls at internal borders”.
Precisely, the Government of Giorgia Meloni decreed yesterday Friday the temporary suspension of the Schengen Agreement to apply random controls at airports and seaports to non-EU citizens traveling from Spain, a measure in force from this Saturday, August 1.