European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for tighter border controls and physical barriers at vulnerable points along the European Union’s external borders, according to a letter sent on Monday to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Von der Leyen did not cut short her summer holiday, but used the letter in an effort to ease tensions with Madrid following the recent migration crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Most migrants involved in the attempted crossing have since returned to Morocco, and the situation in the enclave has largely calmed. However, Ceuta authorities said at least 72 people died during the attempt to enter the territory.
Spanish authorities also said none of the migrants had reached mainland Europe. Despite this, images of the mass border crossing sparked a strong reaction from European governments, with several leaders accusing Sánchez’s administration of mishandling the crisis.
Sánchez rejected the criticism, accusing the leaders of countries attacking Spain’s response of being “selfish” and “acting unlawfully”.
Seeking to ease the dispute, von der Leyen wrote that Spain and the EU could strengthen cooperation on border management, particularly regarding Ceuta and Melilla, another Spanish enclave on Morocco’s northern coast.
“Working together with Spain, especially on matters concerning Ceuta and Melilla, we could improve early-warning systems for border management and increase our technical and financial support to Morocco,” she wrote.
The European Union has signed a number of bilateral agreements with African countries aimed at preventing irregular departures and limiting the movement of migrants seeking to reach Europe.
The deals have drawn criticism from several rights groups, which accuse the EU of failing to ensure adequate protection of migrants’ human rights.
