One should not draw any conclusions from the absence of a minister, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told journalists on the sidelines of the “Munich Migration Meeting” in Munich. 18 interior ministers from European countries traveled to the event on Saturday. Spain, of all countries, was not there, the country that made headlines over the summer with the migration crisis in the North African exclave of Ceuta.
This was noticeable when Dobrindt mentioned the Ceuta crisis several times, as did the EU Commissioner responsible for migration, Magnus Brunner. Brunner spoke of “images” from Ceuta that overshadowed the otherwise good statistics. In Ceuta, thousands streamed across the borders over the summer. A number of them made it to the Spanish mainland, some in smuggler boats, some officially brought in by the Spanish government.
In terms of statistics, Brunner presented the number of 210 million registrations in the European entry and exit system. 70,000 entries were refused, 2,000 of them because of “security threats,” by which Brunner meant suspected terrorism or smuggling.
Dobrindt and Brunner announced that they would combat illegal migration much more sharply than before. To this end, Europe's external borders should be guarded more closely. The European border protection force Frontex, officially referred to as an “agency”, is to be strengthened. Wherever there is an incident at a border, Frontex should be on site and intervene within 24 hours at the latest.
Exceptional situations such as those in Ceuta have repeatedly occurred at the EU's external borders. “These waves are not caused by a humanitarian emergency, but are driven by misinformation,” said Dobrindt. The aim is therefore to have “a rapid procedure for returns because an exceptional situation has been identified that has nothing to do with a humanitarian emergency”.
Dobrindt and Brunner want to stop migrants before they come to Europe. The Europeans want to set up “return hubs”, i.e. collection centers, in several countries. Great Britain had already tried something like this and concluded agreements with the African country Rwanda. Migrants should submit their applications there and then either be allowed to continue traveling or not. However, the project failed for legal reasons.
Brunner said the failure of the British Rwanda plans had nothing to do with the European plans. The concept is different and it is legally protected. Dobrindt announced that more concrete information would be available by December. Until then, just this much: several “return hubs” should be set up in several countries.
Unlike Spain, Great Britain is represented in Munich, with its Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood. Dobrindt wanted to see their presence - unlike the absence of the Spaniards - as a "sign" that there is European cooperation on the subject of migration, even beyond the EU.
According to Brunner, this also makes sense. Because it is important to negotiate agreements with countries of origin and transit countries from as strong a position as possible. He cited trade policy and development cooperation as “levers” for this. He also announced a “new visa strategy” for the citizens of the countries concerned.
Dobrindt said he is also coordinating with Spain. Despite the absence of the Spanish Interior Minister, the cooperation with the government in Madrid was “perfect”. And next year Spain might also be at the Munich meeting.
At the end of July, more than 72,000 people in North Africa crossed the border into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta uncontrolled from Morocco. According to local authorities, at least 100 people were killed. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had spoken of a disinformation campaign on social media platforms that had led to the unprecedented influx of migrants.
