Europe braces for fresh Ceuta border crisis as second mass crossing threat emerges - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness. com
Marcos Moreno/Europa Press/AvalonEurope’s fragile external border is once again under intense scrutiny after intelligence monitoring suggested that online activists are attempting to organise a fresh mass. . .
Marcos Moreno/Europa Press/AvalonEurope’s fragile external border is once again under intense scrutiny after intelligence monitoring suggested that online activists are attempting to organise a fresh mass crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta later this month, raising concerns that last week’s violence could be repeated. Spanish authorities are still grappling with the aftermath of an unprecedented breach in which tens of thousands of migrants surged into the North African territory, overwhelming border defences and triggering a military deployment to restore order. Thousands remain unaccounted for, while the humanitarian toll has fuelled a bitter debate over Europe’s migration strategy. According to Alicante-based intelligence firm Golden Owl, a Facebookgroup with more than 100,000 members has circulated callsfor another coordinated attempt on August 15. Researchers estimate that the campaign could ultimately reach hundreds of thousands of people through interconnectedsocial media networks, highlighting the increasingly sophisticated role digital platforms play in organising irregular migration. The prospect of a second large-scale incursion has intensifiedpolitical tensions well beyondSpain. Lora Ries, director of the Border Security and Immigration Centre at the Heritage Foundation, argued that European governments should view the events as part of a broaderchallenge facingthe continent. It absolutely needs to be a concern,” she told GB News, arguing that migrants who reachsouthern Europefrequently continue towards major cities across the continent. She called for tougher border enforcement alongside faster returns for those without permission to remain. The crisis has also reignited criticism of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’simmigration policies. His government recently launched a programme allowing certain undocumentedmigrants already living in Spainto regularise their legal status, a move supporters describe as pragmatic but opponents argue creates a stronger pull factor for future arrivals. Mr Sánchez has instead blamed organised people-smuggling networks, saying they exploited a recentSupreme Courtruling affecting maritime returns. Spain has since installed a floating sea barrier around parts ofCeuta in an effort to prevent migrantsfrom bypassing the enclave’s border fence by sea. Whether those measures prove sufficient may become clear within days, asEuropean policymakers brace for another critical testof the bloc’s external frontier. Leave a Comment