The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, spoke today with the president of Ceuta, Juan Vivas, to discuss issues concerning the Autonomous City’s external dimension, particularly relations with Morocco and the EU.
Albares received Vivas after the Government launched the Comprehensive Plan for Socioeconomic Development in Ceuta.
The Minister and the president of the Autonomous City have also advocated for a border that works efficiently and regularly and that meets the principles of efficiency and service for the cities.
They pointed out that opening a customs office represents a commitment from the road map signed between Spain and Morocco, and this has been ratified by Morocco in the meetings held in Rabat last December and February.
Albares and Vivas also reviewed the migration phenomenon, which is global and that, for Spain, has to do with the different pockets of instability, mainly in the Sahel.
In this regard, Albares also highlighted the role of Morocco, with which Spain maintains excellent cooperation to control these flows, which reach the EU through the Spanish border. And, for that, they analysed the data on irregular arrivals in Ceuta in March, which show that arrivals by sea have been reduced to zero, while by land they have been cut by 44% compared to the previous month, down to 253 people.
-NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION-