German FM urges EU to prioritize external border security after Ceuta migrant surge

Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is calling on the European Commission to make the protection of the EU's external borders a top priority. This urgent appeal comes in the wake of tens of thousands of migrants recently streaming into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco.

Wadephul characterized the events in Ceuta as a significant stress test for the EU, which he believes the bloc ultimately passed. However, he cautioned that the situation starkly revealed Europe's underlying vulnerability. "Therefore, I expect the EU Commission to make the protection of the EU's external borders a top priority so as not to further endanger the Schengen system with its open internal borders," Wadephul told the German newspaper Bild, as reported by the German news agency dpa.

He further stressed that an effective migration policy necessitates cooperation with partners outside Europe, specifically mentioning Morocco in this context. Ceuta, an exclave bordering Morocco and the Strait of Gibraltar, experienced an unprecedented influx, with the leader of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, reporting that approximately 60,000 people had entered the enclave, though most have since returned.

This situation has prompted broader action within the EU. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, along with leaders from 21 other EU member states, sent a joint letter demanding action regarding Ceuta. The letter calls for discussions on increasing support for Frontex, the EU's border agency, and expresses readiness to enhance national border controls to prevent migrants from Ceuta entering Europe. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, however, criticized this collective appeal as "selfish."

“

Therefore, I expect the EU Commission to make the protection of the EU's external borders a top priority so as not to further endanger the Schengen system with its open internal borders.