Ceuta's Plea for Help and Accusations Against Morocco
Following his dramatic appeals to Brussels, Juan Jesús Vivas, the President of Ceuta, has escalated his rhetoric, directing severe accusations towards Morocco while publicly opposing the stance taken by the Spanish government led by Pedro Sánchez. Just recently, on Tuesday, Vivas warned of an impending collapse of the Spanish exclave and called for increased support from the European Union. The focus has since shifted to the political accountability regarding the significant influx of migrants that occurred at the end of July.
According to reports from euronews, Vivas has accused the leadership in Rabat of engaging in a blatant "policy of harassment" towards Ceuta. The local residents are living in fear of a sudden resurgence of mass migration, prompting Vivas to demand a significantly tougher approach from the EU towards Morocco. He stated before the European Parliament, "The EU must make it clear to Morocco that any fruitful cooperation, beneficial to both parties, begins with respecting our borders." Furthermore, he has also targeted the Spanish government, insisting that it must explain why it refuses to hold Morocco accountable for the events or its potential inaction during the crisis.
Political Fallout and Calls for Change
Vivas's position puts him at odds with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, as Madrid continues to regard Morocco as a "trustworthy partner" in the fight against irregular migration. The government has pointed to misinformation on social media and human smugglers as contributing factors to the mass influx. Adding to the political tension, a leaked police report suggests that Moroccan security forces may have played a role during the crisis, further fueling Vivas's claims that the Sánchez government failed to respond appropriately before, during, and after the events of late July.
Taking a more extreme stance, the Spanish political party Vox has called for a suspension of EU funds to Morocco, a demand that Vivas has not supported. Currently, the EU is financing Morocco's migration management with 160 million euros until 2027. Instead, Vivas is advocating for a special status for both Ceuta and Melilla within the EU, along with migration rules tailored to their unique geographical situations. His warning to Brussels is stark and urgent: "If Ceuta falls, Europe falls." Vivas's criticisms of both the Spanish government and Morocco underscore the urgency of the situation and the necessity for a reevaluation of the EU's approach to migration and border security.
As reported by exxpress.at.
