Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has launched a sharp rebuke against his European counterparts, particularly Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, for their reactions to the massive influx of tens of thousands of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Sánchez decried the decision by some EU nations, including Italy, to temporarily suspend Schengen Area free-travel arrangements, labeling such actions as ‘selfish, polarizing and unlawful’ in a letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and others. He highlighted Spain’s swift action in expelling nearly all of the estimated 50,000-60,000 migrants back to Morocco, contrasting it with what he termed an ‘asymmetric’ reaction from other governments that he believes unfairly targeted Spain and called for its exclusion from Schengen. Sánchez argued that such prejudice-driven responses, fueled by ‘fake news, ignorance, or political interest,’ not only violate European and humanitarian law but also disregard Europe’s long-term interests and common sense, especially since Ceuta is not part of Schengen and Spain is reportedly one of the EU’s least porous external borders. In response to the crisis, which saw at least 67 deaths and prompted Spain to deploy a sea barrier, Sánchez has formally requested an emergency meeting of the interior ministers of all 27 EU countries to address the escalating situation.
Adapted from: Latest World News on Fox News