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🇪🇸 Spain /Elections & Politics

Who Is Taking Advantage?

From La Vanguardia · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Opinion Official statement New plan
  • Nearly 40 days after the Ceuta crisis, Spain is reshaping its approach across warning, response and reconstruction.
  • Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced the publication and declassification of intelligence and security reports, while signaling a tougher stance toward Morocco.
  • The proposed longer-term response includes a stronger European role for Ceuta and Melilla, permanent Frontex involvement and possible Interpol and EU measures.

Nearly 40 days after the events in Ceuta, Spain is reorganizing its handling of the crisis around three stages: warning, response and reconstruction. In the first, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced an order to publish and declassify all situation and warning reports prepared by the National Intelligence Centre, the police and military intelligence between July 1 and August 1.

This government is not afraid to confront other foreign powers.

· Pedro SánchezThe Spanish prime minister used the phrase in Congress while signaling a tougher position toward Morocco.

The move would reduce pressure over both past and future disclosures, including the leaked CENIF report that pointed to signs of Moroccan permissiveness. It is an aggressive and unprecedented transparency measure, the article argues, aimed at showing that the government has nothing to hide.

Sánchez has also shifted his language toward Morocco. Addressing Congress, he said, “This government is not afraid to confront other foreign powers.” He also introduced doubts about Moroccan conduct, saying, “We know that on July 30 the gendarmerie allowed the border crossing. And afterward it controlled it.” The government cannot casually confirm intellectual responsibility, the article says, but it must not rule it out.

We know that on July 30 the gendarmerie allowed the border crossing. And afterward it controlled it.

· Pedro SánchezSánchez referred to Morocco's conduct during the Ceuta crisis.

The reconstruction phase involves more than restoring normal conditions in Ceuta. The government is beginning to develop a new international model for the two autonomous cities, using European institutions to push for a more European border. Cooperation with Morocco, Sánchez said, “has to be different” after what happened. Spain also plans to seek a permanent Frontex presence, a specific Interpol mission and recognition of Ceuta and Melilla as the European Union’s outermost regions.

has to be different

· Pedro SánchezHe said cooperation with Morocco must change after the crisis.

The article further argues that King Felipe VI should visit Ceuta before the United Nations General Assembly’s High-Level Week, scheduled for September 21 to 25. Such a visit would send a strong institutional message, support Ceuta’s population and institutions, and reinforce the idea that Ceuta “is Spain and Europe at the border.”

is Spain and Europe at the border

· UnspecifiedThe article uses the phrase to describe the intended message about Ceuta's status.
About this summary

Originally published by La Vanguardia in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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