France has urgently strengthened its border controls with Spain after 60,000 African migrants stormed the nation’s enclave.
French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered the Interior Ministry to take “all appropriate measures to reinforce controls at the border with Spain”.
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The president’s entourage told the press: “Contacts are being maintained with Spanish and Moroccan authorities to ensure thorough monitoring of the situation and to strengthen coordination between the various services involved.”
Furthermore, France has offered assistance to the Spanish government.
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Sources have indicated that France is “prepared to provide the Spanish authorities with all necessary support, should they request it, including through the (European) agency Frontex.”
Since Thursday, more than 60,000 Moroccans have stormed the border into Spain’s North African enclave, prompting calls for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to declare a national emergency.
In April, Spain’s Government allowed 500,000 migrants to be given permanent status, giving them a path to citizenship.
Earlier this month, Spain’s Supreme Court ruled that migrants intercepted at sea while trying to reach Ceuta or Spain’s other North African enclave, Melilla, could not be returned to Morocco.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has issued a statement to reporters on the crisis while visiting a family centre in Sheffield to discuss the Government’s devolution plans.
Mr Burnham described the crisis as a “concerning situation”, adding: “I know people will see those scenes and want something to be done.”
Speaking on the chaos in Ceuta, he added: “It is a matter for the Spanish government, and is a cause for concern. We are making contact with the Spanish government to provide support”.
He address the rising number of small boats crossing the Channel, telling reporters: “What I have done is keep the current Home Secretary in place, because the plan she has implemented has started to make a difference.”
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The Prime Minister acknowledged the country finds itself in a peak period of the year for crossings, but stressed that the overall numbers are down.
“I will make a visit shortly to Border Force to see the situation myself”, he added, suggesting Mr Burnham will visit Dover to get a first-hand look at the small boat arrivals.
The Gibraltar government has also declared it is monitoring Ceuta with “deep concern” after the unprecedented wave of tens of thousands of migrants arrived in the Spanish enclave.
Officials offered condolences to the families of those who died during the crisis and voiced solidarity with Ceuta’s residents and authorities.
While stressing that knock-on effects for the territory remain “extremely unlikely,” the government confirmed that all necessary precautions are in place.
Crucially, anyone entering Spain or the Schengen zone without authorisation gains no automatic entitlement to enter Gibraltar, work there, or take up residence, the government said.
The Royal Gibraltar Police, the Borders and Coastguard Agency and other relevant authorities are already “operating with heightened vigilance” following the implementation of the Treaty and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
The government emphasised there is “no reason for alarm” at present.
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