Rabat – French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered tighter controls along France’s border with Spain and pledged support for Madrid following the recent surge in migration attempts into the Spanish-occupied enclave of Ceuta.
According to Reuters, French presidential officials said on Friday that France is in close contact with both the Spanish and Moroccan authorities after tens of thousands of migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco.
In response to the situation, Macron instructed France’s interior minister to immediately strengthen controls along the French-Spanish border. The French presidency also announced the activation of the Rapid Intervention Border Force, which will conduct enhanced inspections and in-depth checks at border crossings.
The move is aimed at preventing irregular secondary migration into France as European authorities respond to the developments in Ceuta.
Alongside the reinforced security measures, Paris said it stands ready to assist Spain if necessary. French officials said support could include the deployment of resources through Frontex, the European Union’s border and coast guard agency, as France continues to coordinate its response with Madrid and Rabat.
The background story
The announcement comes after Spanish authorities face a large-scale migration attempt at the border of the occupied enclave of Ceuta. Thousands of people gathered near the border with the Moroccan city of Fnideq following calls circulated on social media encouraging irregular crossings into the enclave. Ceuta’s President Juan Jesus Vivas said around 60,000 people crossed into the Spanish enclave in a single day.
Moroccan security forces intervened to prevent the crossings, while Spanish authorities increased security around the enclave to manage the situation.
Macron’s decision to reinforce France’s border with Spain highlights growing concerns among European governments that the migration pressure on Ceuta could have wider implications across the Schengen area, prompting both tighter border security and closer cooperation between France, Spain, and Morocco.
