STRASBOURG, France – The European Parliament has backed a resolution calling for rapid returns and the sealing of the border after the Ceuta crisis, with the Socialists voting against. The resolution, voted through by the EPP, radical-right groups and the Liberals, also demands that Morocco take responsibility for the situation. The text, after many hours of negotiations, passed with 339 votes in favour, 225 against and 16 abstentions.
EU Demands ‘independent And Exhaustive’ Ceuta Crisis Investigation
At the Spanish level, the PP and Vox backed the text, while the PSOE, PNV and all the left-wing parties positioned themselves against the resolution, with the Socialists claiming their vote against was due to the introduction of the concept of invasion in the finally approved text. The secretary general of the European People’s Party and leader of the PP in the European Parliament, Dolors Montserrat, reacted by saying the European Parliament has said clearly that Ceuta is not for sale but is defended, adding that they approved a resolution demanding Sánchez immediately apply the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, guarantee security and accelerate the return of adults and minors. She stated that the message to Morocco is clear: Spain’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are not negotiated but respected unconditionally, and Rabat must assume its responsibility and readmit all irregular migrants, adding that Europe achieves in three days what Sánchez has not done in 50, through listening, help and solutions.
Specifically, the text calls on Morocco to assume responsibilities and comply with its commitments on border control, return and migration cooperation after the migrant invasion of Ceuta, and stresses that the partnership relationship with the Alaouite kingdom must be based on unconditional respect for the territorial integrity of EU member states as a fundamental principle of international law and a non-negotiable condition. In this sense, it considers that any declaration questioning Spanish sovereignty is unacceptable and incompatible with the obligations of a partner country.
The resolution, supported by MEPs from the European People’s Party, Renew, ECR and Patriots, argues that what happened in Ceuta constitutes not only a migration crisis but an episode of instrumentalisation of irregular flows against the territorial integrity of a member state and, by extension, against the European Union’s external border. The text condemns with the greatest firmness the mass entries from Morocco and describes the instrumentalisation of irregular migration as a tool of hybrid warfare against the territorial integrity of a member state.
The European Parliament incorporates into its resolution specific references to ignored warnings, unheeded requests, delays in requesting European help and political decisions by the Spanish government that aggravated the crisis. It notes that local authorities and security and intelligence services had transmitted repeated warnings to Sánchez’s government, according to confidential reports disclosed on 9 September, and that border pressure had been building long before. It also echoes that the Ceuta Assembly unanimously asked to close the border, declare a national emergency, convene the National Security Council, designate a single coordination authority and deploy the Armed Forces, adding that the Spanish government did not heed those requests.
At the same time, it recalls that 22 heads of state and government linked the crisis to the mass regularisation of more than one million irregular migrants carried out by the Spanish government and regrets that Spain did not formally request reinforcement from Frontex, Europol and the European Union Agency for Asylum until 28 August, almost a month after the start of the crisis and despite offers from the Commission. The text considers that this regularisation encouraged the pull effect.
The resolution also incorporates an amendment proposed by Vox to establish a stricter and more transparent framework for the granting and supervision of European development and cooperation funds destined for third countries. The approved part also demands the introduction of solid mechanisms allowing the immediate suspension and full recovery of European funds in cases where there is a lack of cooperation from the recipient country or where the interests of the European Union or any of its member states are at stake.
The head of Vox in the European Parliament, Jorge Buxadé, explained that Sánchez and Morocco are receiving a clear message from Strasbourg, stating that against those who tried to make Europe look the other way, they have built a majority to defend sovereignty and the border, and that they have also secured the Parliament opening the door to suspending European funds when a third country does not cooperate or when the interests of a member state are at stake.
EU Urges Sánchez Rapid Return of Ceuta Migrants
This vote comes a day after Vox confirmed it will request at the next Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament groups the creation of a special committee to investigate what happened in the autonomous city. On Wednesday, another resolution on the situation of hybrid threats also passed with an amendment on Ceuta that sharply condemned the assault on the EU’s southern border in Ceuta and demanded an independent and exhaustive investigation to clarify responsibilities relating to the planning, execution and objectives of the mass entry of migrants on 30 and 31 July. Sources from the PSOE explained they are not in favour of that investigation because, they say, it was not granted in other similar situations.
