Migration expert Gerald Knaus has called the indirect accusations by 22 EU heads of government against Spain in connection with the Ceuta crisis irrational. The blame was a reaction to disturbing images, not to facts, Knaus said in an interview with tagesschau.de. The EU must now make a quick decision to prevent similar events in the future.
Figures contradict accusations
Knaus pointed out that Spain recorded only 14,000 irregular migrants from all of Africa in the first half of the year – fewer than the previous year and fewer than Italy or Greece at the same time. The arrival of 50,000 to 60,000 people in a single day in Ceuta was “completely atypical” and had not occurred in recent decades. The numbers were five times higher than at the peak of the refugee crisis on the Greek islands.
Knaus also rejected the claim that Spain’s offer of a one-year residence status for irregular migrants living in the country had triggered the rush. Similar regulations had existed in Spain seven times before without a subsequent rise in migration numbers. Almost 90 percent of those eligible in Spain were South Americans, the expert explained.
Images beat statistics
Knaus showed understanding for the reaction of the heads of government: “The great lesson of the past ten years is: images beat statistics.” The sight of a loss of control in a city of 85,000 inhabitants, into which 50,000 to 60,000 people streamed in one day, was “almost apocalyptic.” Many governments had acted out of helplessness, similar to Germany with border controls, which, however, remained ineffective.
Instead of blaming Spain, Europe should have jointly appealed to Morocco, as it had previously done in the cases of Belarus, Turkey, or Libya, Knaus said. A constructive reaction would have been to ask: “How do we prevent something like this from happening again in the future?”
Investigation demanded
Knaus called for an independent, thorough investigation of the events, in which more than 80 deaths are now being reported. Morocco would have an interest in clarification if the incidents were not deliberately provoked. The role of disinformation on social media must also be examined. The Spanish court ruling restricting pushbacks at sea as a trigger was “disinformation,” the migration expert emphasized.
Source: Tagesschau
