Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez strongly criticized the stance taken by some European Union countries over the mass migrant crisis in the autonomous city of Ceuta on the Moroccan border. Sanchez described this stance as “selfish, polarizing and unlawful” and called for an urgent meeting of EU interior ministers.
In letters to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and Irish Prime Minister and EU presidency holder Micheal Martin, Sanchez said: “Such a stance, shaped by prejudice, fake news, ignorance or political expediency, is contrary to European law, humanitarian law and the principles of solidarity that bind us together.”
While more than 50,000 people crossed from Morocco to Ceuta on Thursday and Friday, at least 67 people died trying to overcome a breakwater barrier. Spanish authorities confirmed that as of Friday evening, more than 48,000 people had voluntarily returned to Morocco.
As the events turned into a political crisis for the Spanish government, some EU countries brought the issue to the agenda and calls were made for Spain to be removed from the Schengen free movement area. During this period, Italy stood out by suspending the Schengen arrangement with Spain.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani accused Madrid of encouraging human trafficking by implementing a plan to legalize the status of more than one million refugees and asylum seekers. Spain's Foreign Minister rejected the claim, describing it as “partisan populism.”