Spain seeks EU help with asylum applications in Ceuta after clashes

Spain is seeking European Union assistance to manage a growing influx of migrants and the subsequent fallout in its North African enclave of Ceuta. The Spanish government has formally requested support from the EU's border protection agency, Frontex, to expedite the processing of asylum applications.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has officially asked the EU Commission for ten additional Frontex officers. These officers would be tasked with accelerating the registration and initial assessment of migrants. This appeal comes in the wake of significant events in late July when an estimated 72,000 people entered Ceuta from Morocco, resulting in the deaths of 82 migrants on the Spanish side and 14 confirmed on the Moroccan side.

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Violence is not a solution.

The situation in Ceuta has intensified political pressure on Spain's government, particularly after recent protests and violent confrontations between police and demonstrators. These demonstrators are demanding the deportation of the remaining migrants, and some instances have seen belongings of migrants set ablaze. Migrants have also reportedly thrown objects at a Spanish military vehicle, injuring a soldier and four migrants, leading to twelve arrests of Moroccan nationals.

Minister Grande-Marlaska has condemned the violence from all sides, stating in parliament, "Violence is not a solution." He urged for calm and an end to all violent actions. Beyond Frontex, Spain's Interior Ministry also indicated that the EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA) could provide valuable support, particularly in conducting interviews and supplying interpreters for the asylum process. Given Ceuta's limited space, some of these procedures might be conducted online. The Spanish government is navigating complex legal and humanitarian challenges, as collective repatriation without individual assessments is prohibited under international law and Spanish court rulings.

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I call for calm and an end to all forms of violence.