Spanish king: Handling the mass migrant crossing in Ceuta is the responsibility of the whole EU

Spain’s King Felipe VI, during a dinner following French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit, said European countries should have shown more solidarity and offered more support to Spain after the mass arrival in Ceuta of tens of thousands of migrants.

The king said what happened in the enclave on the North African coast was “unacceptable” and generated a major security, public order and humanitarian challenge.

“It is a situation that should result in a strengthening of cooperation between member states in resources and cooperation,” he said.

“European countries that suffer the most pressure from being on the European Union’s external borders cannot bear alone a responsibility that belongs to everyone,” the king added.

Asked at a press conference about the plans, Minister of Territorial Policy Ángel Víctor Torres said the government was “analysing the possibility” of a legislative change, but that it was not “easy” because of international law issues.

After the mass crossing of 72,000 migrants into Ceuta on July 30, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Spain’s swift action in returning most of those who arrived to Morocco. Other leaders, however, were less understanding, with Italy suspending the EU’s borderless Schengen agreements with Spain for a month.

European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner on Tuesday unveiled a plan to strengthen EU border controls following the Ceuta event.

The plan, which requires approval from member states, would strengthen the mandate of Frontex, the EU’s border protection agency, and give it a corps ready for immediate deployment.