Von der Leyen praises Spain and Morocco for their management of the Ceuta migration crisis and calls for strengthening borders: "We have to strengthen borders more"

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has spoken about the migratory crisis in Ceuta, praising the "effective and efficient" management of the crisis by the authorities of Spain and Morocco, and has insisted and stressed the need for a "common, united and solidary European response". In addition, the President of the European Commission has once again called for borders to be strengthened. "After this incident, it is clear that we have to further reinforce borders at critical points," she added.

She continued her statement by saying, "I want to commend the swift management of the returns of people who illegally entered Ceuta from Morocco. Both the Spanish and Moroccan authorities have managed this situation efficiently and effectively, successfully preventing the illegal transfer to peninsular Spain and Europe," said Von der Leyen in a letter addressed to the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez.

Finally, the President of the European Commission has welcomed the "additional deterrent measures" adopted by the Spanish Executive to prevent new illegal arrivals, and emphasizes that Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, is ready to "reinforce its presence in Ceuta and other parts of the external border."