Von der Leyen praises the Spanish and Moroccan management of the Ceuta crisis and calls for a "common European response"

BarcelonaThe President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has praised, in a letter addressed to the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, the "efficient and effective" management of the latest migratory crisis in Ceuta by the Spanish and Moroccan authorities, and has insisted on the need to provide a "common European response", united and in solidarity.

In the letter, Von der Leyen highlights the "rapid management of the returns of people who entered illegally between Ceuta and Morocco" and adds: "Both the authorities of Spain and Morocco have managed the situation efficiently and effectively, and have successfully avoided illegal transfer towards peninsular Spain and the rest of Europe".

With this letter, Von der Leyen responds to the request that Sánchez made to her on August 1, in which he requested an urgent meeting of the Interior Ministers of the European Union to address the massive and irregular entry of people from Morocco to Ceuta. In the letter, the Spanish President also expressed his concern about the position of some member states that had "attacked" Spain.

For the President of the European Commission, the protection of external borders is a shared responsibility and "any attempt at illegal migration" cannot be accepted as an element of pressure on any member state. Faced with this situation, Von der Leyen calls for "further strengthening our critical points, through close monitoring and the use of physical barriers where necessary".

The call for a "common European response, united and in solidarity" comes hours before the online meeting that the Justice and Interior Ministers of the member states will hold this Tuesday. The President of the European Commission calls for "agreeing on a collective path", which she considers vital for the next community summit.

The Community President also makes it clear that, "from the outset, the Commission offered the EU's support, both financial and operational", and recalls that the European border agency, Frontex, "is ready to reinforce its presence in Ceuta" if necessary, and that Europol and the EU Agency for Asylum "are prepared to provide their support".

At the same time, regarding Morocco, she states: "It is an important strategic partner, especially in our efforts to combat migrant trafficking and illegal migration", and points out that the EU is already working with this country to establish "a more structured and forward-looking partnership".

"In cooperation with Spain, especially concerning everything related to Ceuta and Melilla, we could strengthen early warning systems for border management and improve our technical and financial support to Morocco," Von der Leyen concludes.