Speaking on Euronews’ morning flagship show Europe Today this Friday, Spanish EPP MEP Antonio López-Istúriz said the government of Pedro Sanchez was ‘weak’ and should have reacted earlier to reports from the national police and intelligence services that had warned that thousands of irregular migrants were preparing to enter Ceuta.
López-Istúriz also thinks Morocco could be behind the irregular crossing despite Pedro Sánchez insisting there is no evidence to support this. The MEP said the authenticity and significance of the material would have to be determined through a judicial investigation.
The ongoing dispute comes against the backdrop of already strained relations between Madrid and Rabat. López-Istúriz said that the events were part of a recurring pattern in which Morocco tests Spain’s resolve over border security, pointing to a similar controversy in 2021.
Watch the full interview in the player above.