EU interior ministers yesterday called for tougher action against migrant smuggling networks and stronger returns policies after about 72,000 migrants entered Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta last week, triggering alarm across the bloc.
The ministers also urged closer co-operation with countries outside the European Union to curb irregular migration and prevent a repeat of the surge, which began on Thursday at one of the bloc’s two land borders with Africa, both shared with Morocco.
About 75 migrants died attempting the crossing, with many drowning and others crushed in the chaos.
European Commissioner Magnus Brunner told a news conference after an emergency meeting of EU justice and home affairs ministers that the influx had been fuelled by criminal smuggling networks and disinformation on social media.
He declined to say whether Morocco bore any responsibility, but praised Rabat’s co-operation with Spanish authorities.
“There is an ongoing investigation of the matter (Morocco’s role in the massive break) in Spain. So I ... can’t actually comment on that any further,” he said.
The ministers discussed a range of measures, including better intelligence-sharing, closer monitoring of social media, and stronger protection of the EU’s external borders.
Denmark and Italy used the emergency talks to press for tougher migration measures.
Danish Immigration Minister Morten Bodskov called for increased EU funding for border security.
Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi urged the bloc to adopt “new hub models for the external processing of asylum procedures and for returns in safe third countries”.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis wrote in a Politico opinion piece published yesterday that the EU should allow for the temporary suspension of asylum registrations during sudden mass arrivals.
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