Pedro Sánchez: "Hay una desigualdad estructural en las fronteras de Ceuta y Melilla"

Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish Prime Minister, has stated that an investigation into the events in Ceuta is still ongoing following the illegal entry of 80,000 migrants from the border with Morocco a month ago. He assured that the situation will be resolved and that he is taking responsibility for the mood of the city. Sánchez mentioned that the cooperation with Morocco is positive and dismissed the idea that Spain might have participated in the crisis.

Speaking to Cadena Ser, he addressed the migrant crisis among other issues shaping the beginning of his political term, emphasizing that the government is investigating facts and figures, not making grave, dangerous, and unfounded accusations. He stressed that Spain's migration policy is based on five pillars: reinforcing borders, cooperating with nearby origin and transit countries, establishing a European pact on migration and asylum, strengthening legal migration pathways, and executing immigration policies like regularization.

Sánchez reiterated that cooperation with Morocco is "frankly positive" and acknowledged the structural inequality at Ceuta and Melilla borders. Despite this, he is confident that the crisis will be solved and expressed no doubts about it. He noted that there is no intelligence information suggesting involvement of Moroccan authorities.

The bilateral relationship is complex, he explained, and there was no information indicating the magnitude of the crisis witnessed on the 30th and 31st. He criticized the Center for International Security (CNI) for not predicting such an avalanche of similar characteristics, praising its professionals. Spain's challenge, he highlighted, revolves more around Security than Defense.