Spanish Government contradicts Spanish S&D Group leader

22.03.2023 19:39

Spanish Government contradicts Spanish S&D Group leader

Photo of refugees camped out

The Interior Minister of Spain, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, appeared today in the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee to explain and clarify the tragedy that occurred on the Moroccan border with the Spanish city of Melilla last June. At least 24 immigrants died trying to cross the fences and the walls at the border. The total number of victims is still unknown. NGOs put the death toll at 70. This appearance took place on the initiative of the EPP Group.

“This case has been a clear lack of institutional respect, given that the appearance to talk about this issue has been delayed for eight months”, said Jeroen Lenaers MEP, the EPP Group's Spokesman in the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee.

“Grande-Marlaska didn’t give clear answers. However the Socialist Spanish Government does support the construction of fences as long as they are made of 'migrant-friendly' material, contradicting Iratxe García Pérez, the Spanish Chairwoman of the S&D Group, who stated that 'walls and fences represent the most miserable vision of humanity and they are the false solution of ultra-nationalists presenting foreigners as a threat'", commented Lenaers, referring to the answers of the Spanish Minister who claimed that his government put up fences made of materials that are less dangerous.

Note to editors

The EPP Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 176 Members from all EU Member States

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