Ceuta president fails to secure EU action against Morocco over Tarajal crossings

Ceuta President Juan Vivas, of the People’s Party, failed to secure a commitment from European institutions to take action against Morocco over the mass crossings through the Tarajal border during his latest official visit to Brussels.

The head of the local government said on Friday that he hoped European authorities would deliver «a response», saying they shared his assessment of the events of July 30 and 31.

Vivas said he had told representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament and other EU institutions that the events amounted to Morocco’s «use» of migration pressure to «put Ceuta’s security at risk».

According to Vivas, none of the European officials he met challenged his account. On the contrary, he said he encountered «a great deal of receptiveness and understanding».

Speaking at a press conference to present the outcome of his Brussels visit, Vivas said he had asked European authorities to adopt «a clear and unequivocal position that Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish and, therefore, European».

«These borders must be respected, and if they are not, it is difficult to maintain fruitful cooperation with any country», he added.