Spain's King Slams Ceuta Crisis, Demands EU Border Solidarity
Addressing guests at the Royal Palace in Madrid, where he hosted Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, the monarch labeled the situation in Ceuta "unacceptable,, and said Spain should not be left to shoulder the responsibility on its own, media reported.
"We must be more effective and show greater solidarity in protecting the EU's external border … we cannot face alone a responsibility that belongs to everyone," said the king.
The Spanish government says 70,000 people crossed into Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa, from the Moroccan coast during a mass influx in late July.
Earlier in the day, Felipe VI and Queen Letizia welcomed the Macrons at the Royal Palace with full military honors, opening the French president's two-day state visit.
The trip comes amid a political dispute over the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Spain and France. Spain's Senate rejected the treaty on Tuesday, days after the Constitutional Court unanimously ruled the agreement compatible with the Constitution.
The king did not directly address the Senate's decision in his speech. Macron, however, voiced confidence that the agreement would ultimately be reached.
Felipe VI also urged deeper cooperation on energy interconnections, rail infrastructure, industry and defense.
The visit continues Wednesday with an economic and investment forum and talks between Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
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