EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner warned that the bloc remains vulnerable to unauthorized migration if its external border control depends on the goodwill of neighboring countries, citing recent events in Ceuta.
The EU's reliance on external partners for border control poses a significant vulnerability, potentially leading to uncontrolled migration flows and humanitarian crises, as demonstrated by the recent events in Ceuta.
EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner cautioned on Thursday that the European Union is susceptible to unauthorized migration if its external border security relies on the cooperation of neighboring countries. Speaking at a European Parliament committee meeting, Brunner highlighted the recent mass migration into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta as proof of the bloc's vulnerability.
Brunner stated that while cooperation with neighbors is necessary, dependence on their goodwill leaves the EU exposed. He described the events in Ceuta, where approximately 72,000 migrants entered, as evidence of the need for robust tools to combat smuggling operations. Ceuta Mayor-President Juan Jesús Vivas, also present at the meeting, reported that around 100 people died during the crossing and that thousands remained in the exclave.
The commissioner stressed the importance of using all available leverage to ensure neighborly cooperation, aiming to prevent similar incidents and facilitate effective returns while creating opportunities in migrants' home countries. Integration Minister Claudia Bauer echoed these concerns, warning of potential further mass crossings in Ceuta and urging Spain to reinforce border protection in its African enclaves.