Basque Government Calls for Accountability in Migration Management
In light of the ongoing migration crisis in Ceuta, which has seen a staggering influx of immigrants since July 30, the Basque Government has pointed a finger at Morocco, a topic that the central Spanish government appears keen to sidestep. Nerea Melgosa, the Basque Minister for Welfare, Youth, and Demographic Challenge, publicly questioned why autonomous communities should shoulder responsibilities that should fall to the state, especially when Morocco fails to cooperate in managing unaccompanied minors. "Why do we have to bear the burden of what others do not do simply because Morocco is neglecting its duties?" she remarked during an interview on Radio Euskadi.
Melgosa described Morocco as the "elephant in the room" in this emergency situation, emphasizing that the crisis cannot be resolved by shifting the pressure onto the communities on the mainland. This statement highlights the Basque Government’s concern regarding the Moroccan kingdom's accountability, a matter that the administration of Pedro Sánchez seems reluctant to address. Neither the president nor his ministers have attributed blame to Morocco for its inaction, particularly in light of nearly 80,000 individuals successfully crossing the border, nor have they tackled the pressing need to manage the situation of those remaining in the autonomous city, many of whom are unaccompanied foreign minors.
Just a day prior, the Cabinet of Imanol Pradales responded to a decision made during the Childhood and Adolescence Conference, which approved a budget of 25 million euros for Ceuta to confront the crisis. The Basque region supported the necessity of identifying and understanding the situation of all minors present there, asserting that their protection should be the foremost priority. Melgosa stressed the importance of making efforts to return these minors to their home countries, with their families, and only considering relocation as a last resort. She firmly stated that the ultimate responsibility for resolving this situation should not fall on autonomous communities, as it surpasses their capacities.
This message aligns with a long-standing demand from the Basque Government for greater powers to manage migration effectively, a sentiment reiterated by Pradales earlier this week. On the upcoming Thursday, coinciding with Sánchez's presentation before Congress, Melgosa is set to meet with the Minister of Youth and Childhood, Sira Rego, to discuss these pressing issues. "We know how to manage this situation, and it is unacceptable that we must respond to others' failures," she concluded, underscoring the urgency of the matter.
As reported by elcorreo.com.
