Source: Fortune.com
Summary
Spain installed a 500-meter-long barrier on the sea border between its North African territory of Ceuta and neighboring Morocco after tens of thousands of migrants breached the frontier earlier in the week. At least 67 migrants died, including some who drowned and others who were killed in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez slammed the reaction of some other European Union leaders to the events in Ceuta, saying calls for Spain to be suspended from the EU’s borderless Schengen zone were “driven by prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest.”
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story. Tens of thousands of migrants breaching the frontier, 67 deaths, and a 500-meter-long barrier installed. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defends Morocco as a “reliable partner” despite the massive border breach. EU leaders call for a coordinated response, warning that uncontrolled mass crossings could create a perception that illegal entry into the European Union is possible. The situation enters a familiar phase of finger-pointing and calls for a common response. The migrants’ stories of degrading treatment and hunger on the Spanish side of the border add a human dimension to the crisis. The announcement sounds familiar: a call for a coordinated response, a warning about uncontrolled mass crossings, and a familiar phase of finger-pointing.
Author: Evan Null
