The mayor of Ceuta calls on the European Union for protection and funding following the mass arrival of migrants from Morocco

The mayor of the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, asked the European Union on Tuesday to help protect the territory and manage the effects of the massive arrival of approximately 70,000 people from Morocco at the end of July. More than a month after this episode, the situation remains tense, and Vivas described Ceuta as “a pressure cooker that could explode at any moment.”

The leader of the exclave is calling for a permanent European presence, including through the Frontex agency, as well as financial support for the permanent departure of all those who arrived in July and for strengthening local infrastructure.

Vivas, a member of the People’s Party, accused Morocco of causing or allowing the influx of migrants and of using migration pressure to endanger the integrity of Ceuta, Spain, and the European Union. He called for a firm response from European institutions and respect for borders.

The official made the statements in Brussels, before meetings with the European commissioners for migration and the Mediterranean. They were due to discuss the situation with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares.

Meanwhile, the Spanish justice system has opened an investigation into the migrants’ arrival, citing indications of possible facilitation of the process by Morocco. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, however, told parliament that there was no evidence of the involvement of Moroccan authorities.