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Denmark pleased with Spain's response to Ceuta crisis, stresses need for EU border control
🇱🇹 Lithuania /Crime & Justice

Denmark pleased with Spain's response to Ceuta crisis, stresses need for EU border control

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Denmark's Immigration Minister expressed satisfaction with Spain's rapid response to the crisis in Ceuta.
  • The minister emphasized the need for the EU to control its external borders.
  • The incident has prompted calls for enhanced border security and cooperation with neighboring regions.

Denmark's Immigration and Integration Minister, Morten Bodskov, stated he is "very pleased" with Spain's swift response to the recent crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. He noted that Spain deployed police and military forces, leading to the return of many migrants to Morocco.

"However, these events show that we must ensure control of the European Union's external borders," Bodskov said following an extraordinary EU ministers' meeting on the issue. The meeting was initiated by Italy and Denmark and supported by 20 other nations.

I am very pleased that Spain reacted quickly, deployed police and military forces, and that many migrants have already returned to Morocco.

— Morten BodskovCommenting on Spain's response to the crisis in Ceuta.

Earlier, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had suggested the EU consider suspending the Schengen agreement with Spain, echoing a firm stance from Italy's far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Subsequently, leaders and ministers from 22 EU states, spurred by initiatives from Rome and Copenhagen, called for urgent talks to assess the situation in Ceuta and formulate a coordinated response.

However, these events show that we must ensure control of the European Union's external borders.

— Morten BodskovHighlighting the need for EU external border control after the Ceuta incident.

During a video conference of EU interior ministers on Tuesday, participants broadly supported Denmark's proposals to strengthen EU external border controls, Bodskov reported. Copenhagen advocates for reinforcing the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) to improve surveillance, crisis forecasting, and other functions.

"Uncontrolled migration poses a threat to Europe and Denmark. Therefore, European states must jointly protect external borders and strengthen cooperation with neighboring regions to reduce the number of people traveling to Europe," Bodskov emphasized. According to Spain's Interior Minister, at least 72,000 migrants arrived in Ceuta, with 70,000 already returned to Morocco. More than 70 people reportedly died attempting to reach the enclave.

Uncontrolled migration poses a threat to Europe and Denmark. Therefore, European states must jointly protect external borders and strengthen cooperation with neighboring regions to reduce the number of people traveling to Europe.

— Morten BodskovStating the perceived threat of uncontrolled migration and the need for joint action.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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