European leaders have criticized Madrid's border policy amid the entry of more than 40,000 illegal migrants from Morocco into Spain's North African city of Ceuta.
Modern.az reports that "The Guardian" published information about this.
Finland's Interior Minister Mari Rantanen stated that Spain failed to fulfill its duty to protect the borders of the Schengen area. She announced her support for Italy's proposal to temporarily suspend Schengen rules in relation to Spain.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, in turn, called on Madrid to take urgent steps to bring the situation under control and fulfill its Schengen obligations.
Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen said that the current situation is worrying. He noted that he discussed the issue with his counterparts from Spain and Morocco and hopes that the European Union will take all necessary measures to protect its borders.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunes announced that control at the border with Spain has been strengthened amid the influx of migrants to Ceuta. For this purpose, flexible police forces have been deployed to the border region.
According to the Spanish authorities, at least 18 people died trying to cross from Morocco to Ceuta. Migrants tried to enter the city both by land and by sea.
To bring the crisis under control, Spain sent additional military and police forces to Ceuta. Also, the border of Melilla, another autonomous city in North Africa, has been closed.
