EU Welcomes Morocco-Spain Cooperation to Contain Ceuta Migration Crisis

Agadir, The Gulf Observer: The European Union has welcomed ongoing efforts by Morocco and Spain to contain the migration crisis in Ceuta and facilitate the return of the vast majority of migrants who entered the Spanish enclave last week.

European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica said the EU appreciated the joint efforts by Rabat and Madrid to bring the situation under control and emphasized the importance of continued coordination between the two countries.

Šuica said she remained in regular contact with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita regarding developments in Ceuta, while reaffirming the EU’s commitment to working closely with both Morocco and Spain as efforts to address the aftermath of the crisis continue.

“The EU appreciates the joint efforts of Morocco and Spain to bring the situation under control and ensure the vast majority of arrivals have returned to Morocco,” Šuica said.

She also stressed that the EU was closely monitoring the situation and underscored the need for continued cooperation between European and North African partners in addressing irregular migration.

The European commissioner attributed the mass arrivals to migrant-smuggling networks and warned against deceptive promises made by smugglers and traffickers that could place migrants’ lives at risk.

She emphasized that combating irregular migration, particularly migrant smuggling and trafficking, represents a shared challenge that requires coordinated international action.

The EU’s latest position comes after tens of thousands of migrants attempted to enter Ceuta from Morocco, triggering a major migration crisis around the Spanish enclave.

Morocco and Spain have since continued coordinated efforts to manage the situation and facilitate the return of migrants who crossed into Ceuta, with the EU placing bilateral cooperation between Rabat and Madrid at the center of efforts to stabilize the situation.

The EU has repeatedly emphasized that irregular migration and migrant smuggling constitute common challenges for European and North African countries, requiring enhanced coordination and joint measures to protect human lives and address irregular migration effectively.