Spain brought the irregular migration movement towards the city of Ceuta on the Moroccan border under control. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced that almost all migrants coming from Morocco have been returned. In a statement on social media, Albares stressed that the integrity of the Schengen Area was fully guaranteed, and called for an end to deliberate disinformation.
The minister also underlined that it is not possible to cross from Ceuta and Melilla to mainland Spain without police control.
European Commission Member for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner confirmed this information in a phone call with Albares. Brunner stated that in the call, Albares conveyed that as a result of the efforts made, "almost all" irregular migrants heading to Ceuta had returned. Brunner said that "not a single person managed to cross to the EU mainland," and added, "We will maintain our close contact and we are in communication with ministers across Europe."
Background
On Thursday, July 30, authorities intervened as over 800 irregular migrants attempted to swim from the shores of the Moroccan town of Fnideq to Ceuta, Spain's territory in North Africa. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that the government had mobilized all available resources in response.
In response to the increase in irregular migration attempts to Ceuta, the Spanish government had decided to deploy armed forces to the area. The government also announced that the number of people who crossed to Ceuta by swimming or on foot in the last 24 hours was estimated to be over 49,000.
