Migration to Ceuta triggers row in EU
Almost all of the more than 50,000 people who reached Ceuta in recent days – most of them by swimming – have now returned to Morocco. However the mass border crossing into the Spanish exclave in North Africa has triggered fierce discussion within the EU, with several capitals voicing sharp criticism of Spain's migration policy. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has responded by accusing critics of a lack of solidarity driven by "prejudice, fake news, ignorance or political self-interest".
Power struggle over migration policy
The reactions highlight the turf wars within the EU, correspondent Valérie de Graffenried explains in Le Temps:
“The vast majority of migrants were sent back to Morocco. ... Arriving in Ceuta does not grant access to the Schengen Area, nor does it ensure freedom of movement within the EU. Italy's demand is therefore nothing more than a political slogan. There is no mechanism for excluding a member state from the Schengen Area at the request of other states. ... Every migration crisis intensifies the power struggles and brings divisions to the fore. This is undoubtedly the most worrying lesson to be learned from Ceuta: in Europe, migration is no longer merely a challenge to be addressed but increasingly an instrument of power and manipulation.”
A bone of contention
La Stampa is concerned:
“Italy and Germany are heading a group of 22 countries that advocate taking a hard line against illegal migrants, while France, Portugal, Luxembourg and Ireland back Sánchez's Spain. ... This rift strikes at the very heart of the European project, as it pits those who view illegal immigration as an emergency to be dealt with firmly against those who regard it as a humanitarian problem that must be addressed through reception measures.”
All because of a bad court ruling
A Spanish court ruling caused the chaos in Ceuta, news.bg criticises:
“Sitting comfortably far from the African coast, the judges decided that the sea did not constitute a physical barrier and that immediate deportations were therefore unlawful. The consequences were swift and predictable. The news spread like wildfire in Morocco, thousands rushed into the water, the city was plunged into a humanitarian and social disaster and the local authorities cried in vain for help. Theory-based rulings from the capital have once again shown that when reality is disregarded in favour of abstract judgements, it is those on the front line who pay the price.”
Enticing offer brings people knocking at the door
The Spectator condemns a failed migration policy:
“Naturally, Spain's left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has refused to deploy the military to contain the invaders. Despite the dire scenes, his government has also declined to declare a state of emergency, arguing that migration does not fall within the legal definition of one. ... The Prime Minister, often hailed by the European left as a trailblazing social democrat, has vowed to grant 'amnesty' to 1.5 million illegal migrants already in Spain, handing them full legal status and the right to work. Mr S can hardly be surprised that such an enticing offer has brought yet more people knocking at the door.”
Spain won't forget this
The criticism of Sánchez in Europe misses the point, argues Der Spiegel:
“There has always been a prevailing feeling in Madrid that, when push comes to shove, it could only rely on itself. This has now been confirmed. For years, Spain has been trying to strike a balance in its complicated relationship with Algeria and Morocco. The two African states are arch-enemies. The situation is roughly as follows: if Spain makes overtures to Algeria, Morocco sends migrants. If it makes overtures to Morocco, Algeria cuts off the gas supply. In theory, the EU could easily counter these obvious attempts at blackmail. It's the world's largest single market. ... But to do so, it would have to back Madrid. And instead it has done the opposite. The Spanish will not forget this in a hurry.”
Europe needs pragmatic rules
Europe benefits from immigration – but it needs to be properly managed, news website In insists:
“Not only has Europe taken in large numbers of immigrants and refugees in the past, but this has had a positive impact on both its economy and society. ... We can't complain on the one hand that Europe is an ageing continent, that there is a shortage of workers in certain professions and that entire regions are becoming depopulated and then cry out that we are being invaded when people try to come here to work. Does all this mean 'open borders'? No. Naturally, it requires border controls – precisely to ensure that access to them is above all safe: both for those arriving and for the host countries.”
Jointly protect the external border
El País calls for unity:
“The vast majority of the people who crossed the border illegally in recent days have now left, and this swift resolution of the crisis is good news. ... Spain is a medium-sized European power with sufficient influence not to be intimidated, but this requires unity among the democratic forces in the face of a threat to national interests and a European unity which, unfortunately, has never been complete. ... This division plays into the hands of those outside Europe who seek to undermine Europe's borders with various types of hybrid attacks. Whether it's in Greenland, on the borders with Russia and Belarus or in Ceuta, in all these places the idea of the EU and its sovereignty are being defended.”