Minister Marlaska reiterates that there was no report that "hinted" at the migratory crisis in Ceuta and concludes: "Something extraordinary, exceptional and difficult to imagine"

The Government has taken this Tuesday, 26 days after the start of the crisis, a new step to address the migratory situation in Ceuta after the massive entry of people from Morocco at the end of July. After the extraordinary meeting of the National Security Council, chaired by Pedro Sánchez, the Council of Ministers has declared the “situation of interest for national security” in the autonomous city and has approved the creation of a single command that will be led by the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres. Likewise, the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, has been the first government personality to face her appearance in the Congress of Deputies.

In this context, the Minister of Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, reiterated in the press conference after the Council of Ministers that there was no report that “glimpsed” the crisis of the autonomous city, and that, if there had been one, the necessary measures would have been taken “by common sense”. “Something extraordinary, exceptional and evidently difficult to imagine”, the head of Interior stated.

These statements were made after the journalists present asked him about Robles' appearance where the minister praised the work of the Armed Forces, the State Security Forces and the National Intelligence Center (CNI), of which she stated, it did in Ceuta the work that is “demanded” of it and shared and analyzed it with the rest of the forces.

Robles' appearance

The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, has inaugurated the appearances of the ministers of the Executive to give explanations of the actions of her ministry regarding the massive entry of people into Ceuta between July 30 and 31. In this context, Robles has conveyed the work of the Armed Forces and about the National Intelligence Center (CNI).

The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, began her speech by remembering the people who have lost their lives during the migratory crisis and stressed that it is a situation with an important human dimension. She pointed out that “almost 100 people” have died, although she admitted that the exact number of fatalities is not yet known. In this context, she defended that Spain must act in accordance with legality and, especially, respecting human rights. She also considered it necessary to move towards a common, comprehensive, and coordinated migratory policy within the European Union, while apologizing to those who may feel abandoned.

In a message addressed to the citizens of Ceuta, Robles assured that the Government shares their concern and that “their anguish is our anguish”, insisting that they will not be alone. The minister explained that the Executive is working with the European Union to reinforce the border and has emphatically claimed the Spanishness of the two autonomous cities: “Ceuta and Melilla are Spain. They are very Spanish and represent the best of Spain”. In this regard, she warned that the Government will not allow these values to be threatened and stated that “any aggression against Ceuta and Melilla is an aggression against all of Spain”.

On the other hand, the minister wanted to recognize and highlight the work carried out during the crisis by the State Security Forces and Corps, especially the Civil Guard and the National Police. She also highlighted the “great work” done by the Armed Forces and the National Intelligence Center (CNI) during the situation.

"The CNI monitors the situation with 25 agents from multiple perspectives such as mafias, the rise of jihadist terrorism, or irregular immigration. The duty of secrecy is a guarantee for their actions, although sometimes it is an obstacle to informing. The CNI carried out the work required of them and provided the necessary information," the minister conveyed. 

The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, explained that on the afternoon of July 30, the Government Delegation in Ceuta requested the collaboration of the Armed Forces to support the State Security Forces and Corps in view of the situation that was occurring in the autonomous city. As she detailed, after this request, the Chief of Defense Staff (JEMAD) established the guidelines for the available capabilities of the Armed Forces to contribute to the tasks of presence, surveillance, and deterrence.

Robles pointed out that, based on these instructions, the operational commands of the different Armies and the Navy received the order to attend to the requests of the Ministry of Interior and provide the necessary means. The minister specified that this action was carried out following the usual chain of command of the Armed Forces, through the established procedures to coordinate their intervention and provide support to the security forces.

The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, has distanced herself somewhat, throughout the crisis, from the discourse maintained by the Government during the migratory crisis, especially regarding the relationship with Morocco. While the Executive has insisted on defining the neighboring country as a "reliable partner", Robles has maintained a more forceful discourse by defending Spain's territorial integrity and repeating on several occasions that "Ceuta and Melilla are not to be touched".