Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
by Fedot Streletsky
[Regnum] Ceuta remains unsettled. The situation with Moroccan citizens flooding into the Spanish semi-exclave is deteriorating daily, causing acute concern not only in Spain but throughout the European Union. Once again, a state of high alert has been declared on the border between Ceuta and Morocco.
The reason for this is calls on social media for a new mass incursion into Spanish territory on election day in Morocco, September 23. For this reason, security measures have been stepped up in the city, with drones, helicopters, and nearly three hundred additional police and security personnel deployed.
In addition, the Ministry of the Interior has taken steps to extend the El Tarnajal breakwater and install a permanent system of buoys to replace the temporary floating barrier that was installed after the first wave of migration and which did not last long.
The entire project will cost 9 million euros. However, it's far from certain that this will make any difference. Especially considering that over 10,000 migrants are still in Ceuta right now. No one knows exactly how many, but it's certainly enough to cause permanent chaos.
Some are being herded into temporary detention centers, but this in itself is difficult. Migrants prefer to live in makeshift tent camps, including on the now-infamous El Trampolin beach, or even on the streets. And it's likely not out of a love of the open air.
Those held in these centers organized by the Spanish government have complained of poor treatment, including threats of sexual violence by guards, humiliation, and punishment. Despite protests from the police union, the last such center, set up at the port, accommodated only 1,700 people.
It's no surprise, then, that El Trampolin beach has been unable to clear migrants for a month now, even with batons and other physical force. Meanwhile, local residents have also set up a tent camp—right across from the Spanish government's office—and are demanding urgent and drastic measures.
Their discontent is understandable: crime rates in the region have increased by 60% over the past two months compared to the same period last year. Dozens of cases of sexual violence have been recorded. However, no one is rushing to take action.
Or rather, some measures are being taken, including some rather harsh ones. But they are clearly insufficient. Therefore, on September 20, local residents marched to the Moroccan border, chanting slogans like "Ceuta is Spain." But this hasn't yet led to any significant progress.
More precisely, if there was an effect, it was not at all what the protesters had hoped for. Reports began circulating on social media that the government delegation in Ceuta had allegedly ordered police to disperse the protest camp. However, an official denial soon followed.
Meanwhile, opposition political forces in Spain are stubbornly trying to turn the crisis to their advantage. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the right-wing People's Party (PP), recently visited Ceuta in person, and not alone, but accompanied by Manfred Weber, head of the European People's Party in the European Parliament.
Together, they examined everything closely, expressed horror, and criticized the Spanish government and its head, Pedro Sánchez. Feijóo also outlined what he believed were the necessary steps to resolve the crisis. These steps essentially boil down to expelling everyone and strengthening the border to prevent any further migrants from getting through.
An even more radical position is taken by the far-right Vox, whose ratings have risen to a remarkable 16.6% amid the crisis. Party chairman Santiago Abascal calls the situation an "invasion" and an "act of war," attempting to initiate legal proceedings against Sánchez.
Also recently, a proposal put forward by Vox to ban visas for all Moroccans issuance. This would remain in effect until Morocco makes a "public, explicit, and unequivocal" statement recognizing Ceuta, Melilla, the Chafarina Islands, Perejil, and other territories separated from the mainland European kingdom as Spanish.
In turn, the representative of the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party in Congress, Patxi López, predictably accuses PP and Vox of "exploiting the tragedy" to attack the cabinet and promoting "illegal and inhumane" ideas. Furthermore, the government is shifting some of the blame to the EU.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, along with Migration Minister Elma Saiz, submitted a request to European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner for legislative measures to "accelerate return procedures and international protection in the context of migration crises."
The European Commissioner, in turn, stated: "The Ceuta border is our common EU border." He added that anyone who has no right to remain there must return. He emphasized: "We must learn lessons so that this does not happen again." However, no concrete actions seem to follow from these words.
Moreover, there is no consensus on this matter in the European Parliament. The European People's Party joins the criticism of the Sánchez government and advocates for a stricter immigration policy. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats stand up for Madrid and call for "solidarity."
Pedro Sánchez himself insists that “in Spain, immigrants are not cattle, but people,” and promises to return them “with dignity,” without clarifying what exactly he means or what time period he is talking about.
At the same time, for the first time since the invasion of Ceuta, he directly blamed Morocco for the incident. Although he immediately added the caveat: "We must maintain positive relations with Morocco."
In any case, some progress is evident, as Sánchez previously claimed that Russia was entirely to blame for what happened. He claimed that Spain's "bold" foreign policy had pushed Moscow, and Israel, with whom Madrid has had a long-standing relationship, to destabilize the country through "hoaxes and disinformation" regarding migration.
To this, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova responded that in such a case, Spain could have approached Russia through the appropriate international channels. But it didn't. "Nobody said anything to us about this, but they immediately rushed to the microphones to make some kind of statement," she noted.
Be that as it may, politicians' endless shifting of blame and responsibility is doing nothing to help resolve the crisis. Europe is providing some financial and "moral" support, but is refraining from taking concrete steps. Sánchez is defending himself from the barrage of criticism in every way possible and impossible, and is also avoiding action.
How many thousands more illegal migrants from Morocco must be allowed into Ceuta before someone actually does something? It seems the answer to this question will present itself sooner or later. However, it will likely bring with it even more chaos, violence, and property damage.
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