The Council of Europe calls on Spain to stop cooperating with Morocco on border controls

2023-05-10 14:58:48

The Council of Europe has published a report in which it requests Spain to review cooperation with the Moroccan authorities, and demands the suspension of all types of common activity that may violate human rights. Dunja MijatovicCommissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, has expressed her disagreement and has demanded radical changes in the way immigrants are being treated, especially in Ceuta and melilla.

It declares that Spain has “the absolute obligation” to guarantee the safety of all the people who have been under its jurisdiction, including those who have tried to jump the fence or enter illegally.

It also cites the events of June 24 in which around 23 migrants died, and more than a hundred were injured or disappeared. He also mentions that, a year ago, he requested “an independent, complete and effective investigation” of the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and declares a year later that “the correct steps have not been taken”. He assures that Spain sometimes assumes “complex situations” in the management of migration, but that it is “imperative” that it defend the rights of groups such as refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.

Spain is aware

It is necessary for Spain to stop the “hot returns”, maintains. In the report, he alludes to the episode of the massive entry from Morocco of 8,000 people, of whom 6,000 were immediately expelled. It also affirms that they have to be carried out “fully respecting all applicable international standards on human rights”, and that the Spanish authorities “know or should know it”.

Crisis in access to housing

Another of the topics discussed was the situation of access to housing. He points out that Spain is suffering “a long and structural housing crisis of serious proportions” and highlights “an urgent need” for more affordable housing. He adds that the rise in home ownership prices is above the increase in purchasing power, and recognizes that the problem is addressed by the Government Recovery Plan of 2021 and by the National Action Plan for Access to Housing 2022-2025.