Given the rush of migrants on the Spanish exclave of Ceuta in North Africa, Union politicians in Germany have assigned partial blame to the socialist government in Madrid for the development. "Whoever rewards illegal entries gets more illegal entries," said Deputy Union parliamentary group leader Günter Krings on Friday to "Bild." "The decision of the Spanish government to naturalize 500,000 illegally entered Africans has evidently further intensified the problems for the country itself and for Europe."
This decision was acting as an "incentive for further attempts to illegally cross the borders," the CDU politician criticized. "Together we must urgently talk with Morocco now, along with Spain and other EU member states," said Krings. "Only with the help of our southern neighbor can we prevent a larger migrant rush on Europe."
Alexander Throm, the domestic policy spokesperson of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, expressed himself similarly. "If further proof had still been needed that there are pull factors, then this has been provided by the events in Ceuta," Throm told "Spiegel."
The sudden rush on Ceuta is, according to the Spanish government, attributable to rumors spread by the smuggling mafia following a recent Spanish court ruling on immigration. This concerns a ruling by Spain's Supreme Court from early this month, according to which the immediate return of migrants who cross the border illegally does not apply to those who arrive by sea. This court ruling led to a rush of young men and adolescents and cost lives, said CDU politician Throm.
CSU regional group leader Alexander Hoffmann described the events in Ceuta as "deeply concerning." Europe's migration turnaround could "only succeed if everyone makes their contribution," he wrote on the online network X. "Spain is obligated to protect its EU external borders."
SPD foreign policy politician Ralf Stegner called on the European Union to take joint action. "The difficult situation in Ceuta shows once again that a humane refugee policy in Europe can only succeed together," Stegner told "Rheinische Post." "When smuggling gangs and populists profit, it always comes at the expense of humanity."
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday demanded that Morocco "take back illegal migrants immediately". He "welcomes Spain's intention not to allow the illegal migrants onto the European continent" and added that "we expect Morocco to take the illegal migrants back immediately".
In recent days, according to Spanish figures, around 60,000 people have reached Ceuta from Morocco. This is the highest number since 2021. According to the Spanish Interior Ministry, about 25,000 of them have already returned to Morocco.
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