Feijóo: In Ceuta, it’s up to Europe to clean up the Spanish government’s mess – POLITICO

Alberto Núñez Feijóo is Spain’s leader of the opposition and the president of the People’s Party.

On July 30, at least 80,000 people crossed into Ceuta from Morocco, the largest violation of territorial integrity we have experienced in recent decades. That challenge tested the resilience of Spain’s southern border and, therefore, of Europe’s southern border. It continues 50 days later. With no clear prospect of when it might be resolved. It is therefore time to ask ourselves whether our response matches the scale of what is at stake.

A border is not just a line on a map. It is the expression of a political community that decides which values to protect and which responsibilities to share. When a European border is breached, Europe as a whole becomes weaker. When a border is not properly defended, Europe as a whole is left unprotected. That is what is happening.