According to three sources, Spain has urged other European governments to refrain from publicly criticizing Morocco for its role in the recent migration crisis in Ceuta. This request came as Madrid sought to quell any negative sentiments towards Rabat during an online meeting of interior ministers held on Tuesday, where many participants questioned how an astonishing 72,000 individuals managed to enter Spanish territory in North Africa within such a short timeframe.
Spain's appeal highlights the European Union's desire to avoid alienating a crucial partner that will remain essential in managing migration flows towards Europe in the future. Morocco has long been an ally of the EU in combating terrorism and facilitating intelligence sharing, making it imperative for European leaders to tread carefully in their public statements regarding Rabat.
During a press conference on the matter, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated, "There is not necessarily someone to blame" in relation to the crisis. Apart from a veiled reference from the Defense Minister, Spain has largely refrained from publicly critiquing Morocco. A Western government source indicated to euractiv.com that Morocco may have, at least tacitly, endorsed the influx into Ceuta, suggesting that this incident was likely intended as a political warning to Madrid.
The situation was further exacerbated by false allegations circulating on social media regarding a ruling from the Spanish Supreme Court, which supposedly prohibited Spanish authorities from carrying out "immediate" forced returns of irregular migrants who arrived by sea in Ceuta and Melilla. Subsequently, Western officials observed that players within the Russian disinformation ecosystem reacted "very quickly and on a large scale" to the events occurring at the Spanish-Moroccan border.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz openly called for Morocco to take responsibility and repatriate migrants. However, other EU leaders have avoided suggesting that the kingdom bears any responsibility, even as analysts and media reports raised questions about how such a large-scale crossing could occur without at least some easing of Morocco's typically stringent border controls.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, reaffirmed the principle that migrants should not be used as leverage against the EU—though she did not name Morocco specifically. She mentioned the possibility of offering increased financial support to Morocco, as the European Commission contemplates deepening ties between Brussels and Rabat.
Focus on Disinformation
Instead of blaming their key partners, the European response has largely redirected attention to the role of traffickers and the potential impact of disinformation on social media in amplifying criminal messages. This focus aligns with one of the main points that Rabat has sought to convey. On Sunday, Interior Ministry spokesperson Rachid Khalfi attributed the situation to the "exploitation of the digital space," which created the impression that entering Europe via Ceuta is easy and without legal consequences.
Morocco has also pointed to the Spanish judicial decision that sparked these speculations, asserting that Madrid should have anticipated the consequences of such a ruling. Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Migration, stated on Tuesday that Europol, the EU agency tasked with supporting national law enforcement, is investigating possible disinformation campaigns related to the crisis.
This week, EU ambassadors and ministers discussed the role of disinformation in the crisis, agreeing on the need for improved intelligence sharing. The European External Action Service has started examining whether Russian actors have sought to exploit this event on social media for political gain, sources reported. Furthermore, Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, is considering expanding its powers in an upcoming review by the European Commission to include the ability to monitor disinformation spreading on social media platforms.
However, there is currently no clear independent study or investigation regarding a coordinated campaign prior to the events that unfolded last week.
As reported by euractiv.com.
