Albares meets with Commissioner Brunner in Brussels to discuss Frontex’s permanent presence in Ceuta and Melilla

The Diplomat Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares began a series of meetings in Brussels on Tuesday with officials from European institutions to "advance a better integration of Ceuta and Melilla into the European Union through their participation in various European instruments and bodies" and to address the "permanent presence of European agencies, such as Frontex, Europol, and the European Union Asylum Agency, in the autonomous cities." According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Albares met with the European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, to discuss strengthening European Union cooperation with Ceuta and Melilla, and in particular, a permanent presence of European agencies, such as Frontex, Europol, and the European Union Asylum Agency, in the autonomous cities. According to the Ministry, “the agencies can currently expedite the processing of the necessary procedures so that Ceuta can return to normal as soon as possible.” They also discussed issues related to strengthening response capabilities to situations of pressure at the EU's external borders and “other challenges such as disinformation, which is at the root of this crisis, and foreign interference that seeks to destabilize the EU by exploiting divisive issues such as migration,” the Foreign Ministry continued, without providing further details. The Minister's agenda in Brussels will continue this Wednesday with meetings with authorities from the European Committee of the Regions, the European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, with whom he will discuss relations with Morocco and other countries in the Southern Neighbourhood. Albares will also meet with the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maroš Šefčovič, with whom he will explore the entry of Ceuta and Melilla into the Customs Union, as well as other instruments available to improve the trade and economic integration of Ceuta and Melilla within the European Union. Juan Jesús Vivas For his part, the President of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, also met this Tuesday with Magnus Brunner, with whom he agreed that the priority is the return of the irregular migrants who still remain in the city, and with the Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, who highlighted “the importance of sustained cooperation between Spain, Morocco, and the EU to strengthen border management.” “We continue to support the citizens of Ceuta in these difficult times. The Ceuta border is our EU border,” Brunner stated after meeting with Vivas, while emphasizing that the priority remains that “those who do not have the right to remain return.” The meeting was part of Vivas's agenda in Brussels, where he also met with Dubravka Šuica. The Commissioner conveyed her “full solidarity” and that of the European Commission with the citizens of Ceuta following the mass influx of irregular migrants and acknowledged the actions of the authorities, emergency services, civil society, and citizens in the face of this “exceptional” situation. Šuica also stressed the importance of maintaining “sustained cooperation between Spain, Morocco, and the EU” to strengthen border management, prevent dangerous migration routes, combat trafficking networks, and guarantee effective returns and reintegration processes, including for minors, in accordance with international law. Vivas's meetings with the Commissioners took place after his appearance before the media at the European Parliament, where he called for greater involvement of EU institutions in border protection and migration management. The President of Ceuta stated that the mass influx of migrants was made possible by “Morocco's participation or consent” and denounced a “constant policy of harassment” toward Ceuta and Melilla. In this regard, he accused Morocco of using border controls and migratory pressure to “jeopardize our territorial integrity, to cause the collapse of our reception services, and to destabilize Ceuta in every respect.” Vivas called for a greater European presence through Frontex and the European Asylum Agency, as well as financial support for border infrastructure and for the care of unaccompanied foreign minors.Enviar comentarios

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