Brussels, Aug 4 (IANS) The European Union (EU) on Tuesday commended Spain for its swift response to the situation in Ceuta and also offered condolences for the loss of life that occurred during the crisis at the Spanish enclave bordering Morocco.
On Tuesday, over a videoconference, the EU Home Affairs ministers addressed recent developments in Ceuta. During the meeting, the Spanish delegation, the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) shared their assessment of the events over the past days and the current situation at the external border in Ceuta.
According to a statement, the Council Member States and Schengen-associated countries, including Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, were united in expressing “strong solidarity” with Spain. The ministers appreciated the swift and effective efforts of Spanish authorities in responding to the situation in Ceuta. They also expressed their condolences for the people who lost their lives attempting to make the crossing.
“The EU is united and ready to support Spain. We commend Spain for its rapid response to the situation in Ceuta and express our deepest condolences for the tragic loss of life. The EU’s external borders are our shared responsibility, and migration requires a unified European response,” stated Jim O’Callaghan, Irish Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
“Today’s meeting, which I convened, provided an important opportunity for member states to assess the tools already at our disposal, identify where further cooperation is needed, and advance our collective preparations ahead of the next ministerial meeting and the European Council in October,” he added.
According to the the EU, there was a common understanding of the need to continue relentlessly fighting migrant smuggling networks, to reinforce returns, to strengthen EU borders, to build deep partnerships with third countries, and to improve foresight.
The latest update from the Spanish authorities and the Commission indicates that the very large majority of people who have crossed illegally have been returned and there has been no onward movement to mainland Spain or other member states.
“Ministers stressed the need to improve shared situational awareness, which could be achieved by further developing early-warning systems such as pre-frontier intelligence and social media monitoring,” read a statement.
It also noted that the Council highlighted the importance of cooperation with third countries and to further developing partnerships that create the right opportunities for people in their home countries and strengthen migration management.
–IANS
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