Grande-Marlaska calls for a 'rapid de-escalation' in the Middle East and asks the EU to display 'serenity and unity'

The Minister for Home Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, upon his arrival at the European Council of Home Affairs Ministers in Brussels

The Minister for Home Affairs, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has called for "serenity and unity" in the EU to confront the open conflict in the Middle East, and has appealed for "a rapid de-escalation" as a way to stabilise the region and limit possible repercussions for the EU27. "Our position is very clear. All conflicts must be resolved under the UN Charter and in accordance with international law," he added.

Grande-Marlaska made this appeal during the Council of Ministers of the EU in Brussels, where he also insisted on continuing to work on stabilising the region, especially in north-eastern Syria. "It is not only a foreign policy issue, but a central element in mitigating risks that can be projected onto the internal security of the EU," he said.

The minister also urged European partners to eliminate internal border controls in the Schengen area, which are no longer an "exceptional measure" but a "tolerated structural barrier" in the EU.

The free movement of people without internal border controls "is at the heart of the European project", and the restoration of full freedom of movement "cannot be an option, but a legal and political obligation". The controls, said the home affairs minister, send a message of "weakness, lack of mutual trust and withdrawal" from the European project.

The Council also addressed return policy in migration management. Grande-Marlaska spoke in favour of increasing funding so that it would be "sufficient and well targeted", aimed at promoting voluntary return, readmission and capacity building in the countries of origin and transit of migration.

Opposition to return centres in third countries

The minister also advocated a "truly common" European return system, which would consolidate mutual recognition and thereby contribute to reducing incentives to move to other member states to prolong illegal residence. "We would limit secondary movements within the EU and promote voluntary return," he explained.

On detention centres in third countries, he expressed "caution" because, in his opinion, they lack a certain legal basis and their effectiveness and cost-benefit ratio have not been demonstrated. "We are particularly opposed to testing in neighbouring countries, because of the negative impact it could have on Spain's bilateral cooperation," he explained.

Grande-Marlaska showed himself to be in favour of strengthening prevention and cooperation with the countries of origin and transit of migration as the most effective ways of combating the mafias that traffic in people, and has urged the EU to extend the Mediterranean Pact to Mauritania and Senegal. "The routes on the Atlantic coast are intimately connected with those of the Mediterranean," he added.

The Council also analysed the strengthening of the Europol agency, which Spain supports as the main centre for the exchange, processing and analysis of information, but does not consider it necessary to create new structures, according to the minister. "The priority must be to strengthen the elements already in place, in particular the Europol National Units and Liaison Officers," he underlined.

Non official translation