The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, expressed this Friday his support for Spain in the face of the migratory crisis triggered in the autonomous city of Ceuta, while ruling out at the same time that it be removed from the Schengen area, although he has criticized the "lax" attitude of some European Union Executives on migration issues.
"We must support Spain in the fight against illegal immigration. Today I have also joined the initiative of the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, which calls for a firm response from the EU institutions," he stated in a long message published on his social networks in which, however, he emphasized that "I do not believe that excluding Spain from the Schengen area is the appropriate solution."
Fico insisted that "any country that needs help to safeguard those borders should receive the maximum possible support through the deployment of police officers and the necessary technical equipment for border protection," help that, he specified, his Executive is willing to make available to Spain now.
The Slovak leader defended the need to "do everything possible --and even what may seem impossible-- to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the territory of EU member states without authorization."
In this context, he lashed out at the "hypocrisy of many" governments and officials of European institutions, whom he reproaches for "just a few years ago, with their lax approach, allowing illegal migrants to enter EU countries in large numbers, causing serious crises."
Thus, he emphasized that "nowadays, everyone presents themselves as a staunch opponent of illegal immigration," to recall that when he himself used his veto right to block the approval of mandatory migrant quotas in the European Council, "I had to endure considerable political hostility and much criticism."
The current migratory crisis, which has left at least fifty dead, has caused Italy to suspend the free movement agreement with Spain. According to the latest communication from the Government, 48,300 immigrants have returned to Morocco from Ceuta by 6 PM on Friday, July 31.