Spain Considers Frontex Deployment to Secure Ceuta and Melilla Borders

The objective of the Spanish government is to confirm the belonging of Ceuta and Melilla to its territory and to Europe by extension. In this perspective, the Executive plans, in addition to requesting the presence of Frontex in the two cities, to reconsider their integration into the Schengen area, to strengthen the presence of government members there and to implement an economic plan in the face of the Moroccan blockade, according to El Pais.

Spain had nevertheless ruled out the possibility of hosting Frontex agents to strengthen security in these two enclaves. A first time in 2014, when it was facing strong migratory pressure, and recently in the midst of the crisis with Morocco. "I do not think it is necessary, in the current state of affairs, to strengthen our devices in the autonomous city," said Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the Spanish Minister of the Interior, in response to the proposal of Fabrice Leggeri, the director of Frontex. "The presence of Frontex clearly indicates to Morocco that the two cities are the southern border of the EU," he explains.

To read: Spanish Enclaves Ceuta and Melilla Face Economic Crisis as Morocco Border Closure Continues

Unlike the Minister of the Interior who prefers to strengthen the capacities of the Civil Guard in means to better ensure its role, the Moncloa is in favor of this option in order to send a strong message to Morocco. After the relevant authorities have agreed on the entry of Frontex into Ceuta and Melilla, the deployment conditions of the agents will be defined. "It is time to lay new foundations to achieve a more stable relationship, but on other parameters: Ceuta and Melilla are the external border of the EU and Spain," say sources close to the government.

In addition, Spain could request the entry of Ceuta and Melilla into the EU customs union and is also studying the possibility of reviewing the economic and fiscal regime of the two enclaves, with the help of the European fund.