00:02The European Commission reiterated Tuesday that all persons illegally remaining in Ceuta
00:08would be returned following the massive influx of migrants that took place in 8 July.
00:13The priority is now for the Spanish and for the Moroccan authorities to maintain control
00:17of the situation and to ensure the swift return of all those who illegally remain in Ceuta.
00:24We have notably seen good results of this cooperation over the weekend
00:28when new legal attempts to cross the border were effectively prevented
00:32and when the integrity of the borders were preserved.
00:36Last week, Spain's interior minister had estimated there were approximately 5,000 illegal migrants remaining in Ceuta,
00:44including about 1,900 miners.
00:47Spanish authorities have pledged to return all those who are illegally staying in the enclave to their country of origin,
00:54stressing no one would be transferred to mainland Spain.
00:56Earlier this month, Moroccan authorities had said they were ready to cooperate with Madrid
01:02and other EU partners to facilitate the return of unaccompanied minors.
01:07Now on the return, yes, I mean the return, this is regulated when it comes to EU law under the
01:14return directive.
01:15Soon this will be the EU return regulation.
01:18And there are indeed provisions for the return of illegally staying migrants, including for unaccompanied minors.
01:24So this is also covered by EU law.
01:26According to Spanish estimates, around 72,000 persons crossed into Ceuta on the 30th of July
01:33and almost all of them have already been returned to Morocco.
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