Frederiksen Defends Tough Stance on Ceuta Migrant Crisis Amidst Criticism

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is standing by her firm approach to the recent surge of migrants towards the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. She has publicly supported the idea of suspending Spain from the Schengen cooperation, a sentiment echoed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

"We will not accept uncontrolled migration to Europe," Frederiksen stated on Facebook in a joint post with Meloni. The two leaders urged Spain to take action following the large-scale migrant arrivals.

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We will not accept uncontrolled migration to Europe.

However, Frederiksen's position has faced internal criticism. Danish Member of Parliament Magnus Georg Jensen expressed disagreement with suspending the Schengen agreement, emphasizing the need for cooperation in securing Europe's external borders. Morten E. G. Brautsch, foreign affairs spokesperson for the Moderates party, commended Spain's swift handling of the situation.

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Europe must secure its external borders. But we must do so by cooperating. And therefore I do not agree that the Schengen agreement should be suspended.

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska reported that approximately 72,000 individuals had entered Ceuta, with nearly all having returned to Morocco by the previous week. Ceuta and Melilla are the EU's only land borders with Africa, situated on the African continent but under Spanish control.

The situation in Ceuta prompted criticism of Spain's immigration policies, particularly from Italy. Meloni's suggestion to suspend Spain from Schengen, which allows for borderless travel within participating EU countries, was deemed "selfish" by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

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selfish