EU Migration Commissioner warns reliance on neighboring states for border control leaves bloc exposed

EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner told an extraordinary session of the European Parliament’s civil liberties committee that the bloc’s external borders are at risk if their security relies on the cooperation of neighboring states. He referred to the recent surge of roughly 72,000 migrants who entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco as a test of the EU’s resilience.

"What we have seen in Ceuta during the past few days was … a test of our resilience and also of the security of our external borders," Brunner said.

Brunner emphasized the need for stronger tools to combat smuggling and called for the EU to use all diplomatic leverage to secure partnerships with bordering countries. He said migration diplomacy must be stepped up to prevent similar incidents, ensure effective returns and create opportunities within the EU.

Ceuta’s mayor-president Juan Jesús Vivas, present at the meeting, reported that about 100 people died during the crossing and that between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remained in the enclave. Integration Minister Claudia Bauer warned that another mass crossing could be attempted on Aug. 15 and urged Spain to reinforce border protection in its African territories.