Berlin.- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said this Friday that Spain must regain control in the Spanish city of Ceuta (North Africa), expressed his satisfaction with the Spanish decision not to allow illegal migrants to enter the European continent, and stated that he expects Rabat to readmit them immediately.
“Spain wants and must regain control of the situation in Ceuta as soon as possible. Therefore, I welcome Spain’s intention not to allow illegal migrants to enter the European continent,” Merz said in a statement.
Read more: Spain reinforces security in Ceuta after massive influx of migrants from Morocco
“We hope that Morocco readmits illegal migrants immediately,” he added.
The head of the German government described it as “positive” that the European Commission and the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration have “promised their support” in resolving the situation and pointed out the importance of protecting the external borders of the European Union (EU).
“Protecting the EU’s external borders is fundamental to fighting illegal migration,” Merz highlighted.
Therefore, “I clearly expect all EU member states to comply with this obligation,” stressed the chancellor, who stated that he is “in contact with the Spanish Government” in this regard.
In the same vein as Merz, Germany’s Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, said that the Ceuta case shows that the “migratory pressure on Europe remains high”.
“The situation in Ceuta highlights the instability surrounding illegal migration,” noted the German Interior Minister.
“Spain must immediately ensure that the protection of the European Union’s external borders is guaranteed and that illegal migrants are returned without delay to Morocco,” he added, before defending measures such as the temporary controls currently being carried out by German authorities within German territory following Friedrich Merz’s rise to power.
That measure, implemented on a temporary basis, is going to be extended beyond September, according to Dobrindt’s intention.
“It is necessary to maintain flexible and adapted controls at internal borders. We are going to extend the possibility of carrying out checks at internal borders beyond the month of September,” the minister pointed out.
This Friday, the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, condemned what he considered an “attack” and “a violation of Spain’s territorial integrity” with the irregular entry into Ceuta, in North Africa, of thousands of people from Morocco.
Spanish security forces and emergency services have so far recovered the bodies of 43 people on the coast of Ceuta following the mass entry.
