German Foreign Minister Johann Vadefuhl has urged European institutions to prioritize securing the EU’s external borders following a significant migrant influx into Spain’s autonomous city of Ceuta.
The German official reportedly held a telephone conversation with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Burita, urging Rabat to address the crisis and restore border control.
Vadefuhl stated that “to manage illegal migration effectively, we require partners outside Europe, such as Morocco in this case.”
Since July 30, when migrants began entering Ceuta, Spanish authorities have suspended operations at Melilla’s only active North African border crossing. More than 60,000 individuals have reached the Spanish exclave without authorization.
Madrid has mobilized military and police forces, who deployed tear gas against arriving migrants. As of August 1, at least 61 migrants have died attempting to cross the border.
