The heads of state and government of the European Union condemned and rejected on Thursday "the attempts of third countries to instrumentalize migrants for political purposes". Morocco is not mentioned in the final text.
The European Union’s sanctions condemning Morocco for allegedly allowing a mass influx of migrants into Ceuta on May 17 and 18 are feared to provoke a reaction from the kingdom and do not help ease tensions with Spain.
The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arancha González Laya, stated on Wednesday that the Spanish sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla "is not threatened and will not be".
Spain’s new position, which is now ready to "consider any solution" proposed by Morocco on the Sahara , can be considered a victory for Moroccan diplomacy, according to an expert in international relations who stresses that this could be the beginning of a easing of tensions between Rabat and Madrid.
A month after the massive arrival of Moroccan migrants in Ceuta, the juvenile judge, José Luis Puerta, notes that the situation is unsustainable for the autonomous city. For him, the enclave was not prepared to receive and manage so many people, especially minors.
After the massive influx of Moroccan migrants into the city of Ceuta in May, the Port Authority is calling on the State to take urgent and immediate action to protect the security infrastructure set up in the port.
Ryan (pseudonym) has hidden his homosexuality in Morocco for years, for fear of facing discrimination or threats. He is one of the around 1,000 migrants who massively entered Ceuta on May 17 and 18. Last week, he went to the asylum office in the autonomous city to apply for international protection.
The 3,000 Moroccans, including nearly 1,000 minors, who remain stranded in Ceuta , cost the city authorities 3 million euros per month in terms of accommodation and assistance. This was announced on Thursday by Juan Vivas, the President of the Ceuta Executive.
Dina El Yassini Haidour is one of the migrants who arrived en masse in Ceuta between May 17 and 19. A month after this collective attempt that triggered a migration crisis between Morocco and Spain, the young Moroccan is still blocked in the autonomous city. Her family is in despair.
The poor reception and unsanitary conditions of migrant centers expose them to various diseases and psychological problems. This is revealed in a report published Tuesday by Médecins du Monde.
A group of more than 150 sub-Saharan and Maghreb migrants attempted in the early hours of Tuesday to illegally enter the city of Melilla . They were repelled by the Civil Guard agents, nine of whom were "slightly injured" during the operation.
Spain is taking drastic measures to secure Ceuta and Melilla in the face of Morocco’s threat to recover the two autonomous cities. The Sanchez government is considering, among other things, requesting the presence of Frontex, the European border agency, in the two enclaves.