Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the EU should 'consider all options, including suspension of Schengen cooperation', following the irregular crossings from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Denmark joins Finland and Italy in calling for stricter measures against Spain.
This evening, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called on the European Union to consider suspending the Schengen free movement agreement, joining a growing coalition of member states demanding action against Spain over the migrant crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Frederiksen said the EU should “consider all options, including suspension of Schengen cooperation.”
The calls escalated earlier Friday, with reports at 15:10 Jerusalem detailing that Denmark’s PM had first raised the possibility. Shortly after, Italy, Finland, Sweden, and France increased pressure on Spain, with Sweden urging Madrid to “regain control” of its territory. By 15:10, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Italy formally called for Spain’s suspension from the Schengen Agreement, and Austria and France joined the call, bringing the total to six EU states backing the move, as The Zioneer reported. Later, at 17:17 Jerusalem, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU will not admit migrants who fail to comply with its rules, calling the images from Ceuta “unacceptable.”
The crisis stems from an influx of over 20,000 individuals who crossed from Morocco into Ceuta in recent days, according to reports confirmed by local officials. A new court ruling has blocked the immediate return of migrants who reach Spanish territory by sea, compounding the challenge. At least 18 people have died attempting to reach the enclave, and local authorities have warned of “chaos” as infrastructure is overwhelmed, as The Zioneer reported earlier Friday.
It remains unclear whether the EU will formally consider suspending Spain’s Schengen membership, and what specific procedures would be required. The Spanish government has not yet responded to the calls.
5 developments
- StrongVon der Leyen: EU will not admit migrants who fail to comply with entry rules
- DevelopingAbu Ali Express: European media, political circles increasingly call for isolating Spain over Ceuta crisis
- DevelopingFrench Interior Minister orders reinforced border controls with Spain over Ceuta migrant crisis
- StrongSpanish residents curse PM Sánchez, blame him for Ceuta migrant crisis
Source and signal
- Open-source intake