Key facts
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez denied Morocco instigated the migrant surge into Ceuta.
- Sánchez stated that no government institution provided evidence of Morocco planning the incident.
- He reaffirmed Spain's sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla, condemning Moroccan claims.
- The Prime Minister acknowledged the government's handling of the crisis was insufficient.
- Sánchez emphasized the need for continued cooperation with Morocco.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Thursday denied that Morocco was behind the mass influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, despite a police report suggesting Rabat helped orchestrate the surge. Addressing an extraordinary session of the Spanish parliament, Sánchez stated that no government institution, diplomatic service, or international organization had provided evidence of Morocco planning or carrying out the incident. He asserted that if solid evidence existed, Spain would act accordingly, but emphasized the need to continue cooperating with Morocco to deport migrants and prevent future surges.
Sánchez faces significant political pressure over the crisis, with protests occurring across Spain. Members of his own coalition government, like Youth Minister Sira Rego, have questioned his "policy of appeasement with Morocco" and found it "hard to imagine" the surge occurring without Moroccan authorities' knowledge. Despite these challenges, Sánchez insisted on maintaining a "good neighborly relationship" with Rabat.
In a notable shift, Sánchez also condemned Morocco's "unacceptable" statements challenging Spain's sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla, territories governed by Madrid for centuries but claimed by Rabat. He declared, "Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish, and they will remain so until the end of time." Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares summoned the Moroccan Ambassador to formally protest these claims. While admitting the government's handling was "insufficient," Sánchez argued authorities could not have anticipated the scale of the influx on July 30, dismissing the idea that the government was warned and did nothing. He defended Spain's progressive migration policies, necessary for its economic future amid declining birth rates, regardless of their popularity in a conservative Europe.