Spanish government must answer for Ceuta border failure

The EPP Group today criticised the decision of Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Migration Minister Elma Saíz not to attend the extraordinary meeting of the European Parliament's Committee on Home Affairs (LIBE), convened following the unprecedented migration and security crisis in Ceuta.

The hearing was requested following the arrival in Ceuta of more than 70 000 irregular migrants within hours, the largest irregular entry ever recorded at an EU external border. Yet neither minister appeared before Members of the European Parliament to explain the Spanish Government's handling of the crisis.

"The Ceuta crisis cannot simply be declared over while those who entered illegally remain unidentified and serious failures remain unaddressed. The Spanish Government failed to take the necessary measures to protect Europe's external border. Europe has the tools, from Frontex to Europol, and the Migration and Asylum Pact provides a clear framework. It is time for the Spanish Government to assume its responsibilities. Instead of providing answers today, Sánchez's ministers chose to snub the European Parliament by refusing to appear and face democratic scrutiny," said Dolors Montserrat MEP, Vice-Chair of the EPP Group.

"The situation in Ceuta remains critical. Thousands of migrants remain in the city, reception facilities continue to operate beyond capacity, and many unaccompanied minors are currently under the care of local authorities. It is unacceptable that repeated warnings from local authorities and security services in the weeks preceding the crisis were not acted upon," said Lena Düpont MEP, EPP Group spokeswoman on Home Affairs.

"Ceuta is not only Spain's border - it is Europe's border. This is not simply a migration crisis; it is a border security crisis. If we want to preserve Schengen, we must effectively protect our external borders. Europe stood with Spain from day one, offering support through Frontex, Europol and the EU Agency for Asylum. The Spanish Government should make full use of these instruments and work with its European partners to restore control of the EU's external border," Düpont added.