German Foreign Minister Urges EU to Protect Borders Following Migrant Influx into Ceuta

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has requested the European Commission to prioritise the protection of the European Union’s external borders following the influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa, according to reports from the German newspaper Bild on Sunday. The German Foreign Minister stated that European nations require external partners, such as Morocco, to control illegal migration. While Europe has reportedly managed to avoid a major migration crisis, the situation remains tense. Previously, in late July, Ceuta recorded a large wave of migrants from Morocco. On Friday, the Mayor-President of Ceuta, Juan Jesus Vivas, stated that approximately 60,000 people entered the city’s territory from Morocco in a single day. Riots broke out amidst the crisis, leading to the deployment of additional police units, the Civil Guard, and the military. Ceuta is a Spanish enclave on the north coast of Africa, situated on the border with Morocco. Along with Melilla, Ceuta forms the only land border between the European Union and Africa and is considered a primary route for illegal migration into the EU.