The Diplomat in Spain

Dimitris Avramopoulos with Spanish Government Vice President, Carmen Calvo./ Photo: Ep

The Diplomat. 05/08/2018

The European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos yesterday transmitted to the Vice President of the Government, Carmen Calvo, and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Interior and Employment and Migration that Brussels will continue to show solidarity with Spain.

In a meeting at La Moncloa, Avramopoulos said that Spain shows an exemplary European spirit in facing the challenges posed by migration and insisted that the Commission will support the efforts of the Spanish Government to develop an effective response to the growing number of arrivals produced in recent months, as well as efforts to protect the external borders of the European Union, with special emphasis on the Andalusian coast.

The meeting reaffirmed their commitment to face the «migration challenge» and reviewed the measures taken by Spain, including the contingency plans adopted this summer. They also agreed that there is a need to increase cooperation with all African countries of origin and transit to strengthen the development of border management capacities and address the root causes of migration.