King Felipe VI calls on EU to share responsibility for Ceuta — Anadolu Agency

King Felipe VI of Spain, during French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Madrid, called on the European Union to strengthen solidarity in protecting its external borders. He raised the issue of the recent influx of migrants into Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa.

Call for EU solidarity

At a state dinner at the Royal Palace attended by Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, Felipe VI described the situation in Ceuta as unacceptable. The king said that Spain cannot bear responsibility for protecting the EU's external border alone, as this is a shared duty of all the bloc's countries. This was reported by Anadolu Agency, citing El País.

According to the Spanish government, 70,000 people entered Ceuta from the Moroccan coast at the end of July.

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Agreement between Spain and France

Macron's visit is taking place amid a dispute over the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Spain and France. On Tuesday, Spain's Senate rejected the agreement, although last week the Constitutional Court unanimously found it compatible with the Constitution.

Felipe VI did not comment on the Senate's decision in his speech. At the same time, Macron expressed confidence that an agreement could eventually be reached. The king also stressed the need to develop cooperation in energy interconnections, railway infrastructure, industry and defense. An economic and investment forum and Macron's meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez are scheduled for Wednesday.