Join us for an open lecture hosted by the ELTE Institute of Political and International Studies, featuring Montserrat Feixas Vihé, Visiting Professor at ELTE and former UNHCR Regional Representative for Central Europe.
Pa' una ciudad del norte yo me fui a trabajar
Mi vida la dejé entre Ceuta y Gibraltar
Soy una raya en el mar, fantasma en la ciudad
Mi vida va prohibida, dice la autoridad
(Manu Chao, Clandestino)
The mass crossing from Morocco into Ceuta on July 30 and 31, in which more than 100 people died, exposed significant tensions within Spanish society over migration, solidarity, and belonging. While the Spanish government reaffirmed its legal and humanitarian obligations under international law, sections of the population called for the immediate return of those who had crossed, some portraying them as “invaders.”
These reactions appear particularly striking given Spain’s transformation from a country of emigration into a country of immigration, and its subsequent development as a diverse and ostensibly tolerant democracy. What has happened to Spanish society? What can explain the contrasting responses of the Spanish government and sections of the population?
The events occurred just six weeks after the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum became applicable, introducing a new European framework for managing migration and responding to situations of exceptional pressure. But what happens to the principles of solidarity, humanitarian protection—including the right to seek asylum—when there is a new mass arrival at Europe’s borders? Can the new Pact reconcile the demands of border security with Europe’s commitments to those seeking protection—and can it foster solidarity both with migrants and among Member States? The events in Ceuta offer a compelling opportunity to examine these questions.
Photo credit: Cyprien Hauser (flickr)