Why in the News?
Around 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain’s Ceuta enclave within 24 hours, prompting Italy to temporarily suspend the Schengen Agreement with Spain for one month by reintroducing border checks.
What is the Schengen Area?
- A passport-free travel zone that abolishes internal border checks among participating European countries.
- Members maintain common external border controls.
- Internal border checks may be temporarily reintroduced on grounds of national security or public order.
What Happened in Ceuta?
- Around 60,000 migrants attempted to enter Ceuta from Morocco.
- At least 57 migrants died during the crossing.
- Spain deployed the armed forces and additional police to restore order.
- Morocco used tear gas to disperse migrants near the border.
Why is it Significant?
- Highlights vulnerabilities at the EU’s external borders.
- Tests the functioning of the Schengen free movement system.
- Demonstrates that one member state can temporarily restore internal border controls during security emergencies.
- Raises concerns over irregular migration, border management and humanitarian protection.
Challenges
- Rising irregular migration and human smuggling.
- Balancing border security with humanitarian obligations.
- Coordination among EU member states.
- Political tensions between Spain, Morocco and other EU members.
Ceuta
- An autonomous Spanish city on the north coast of Africa, bordering Morocco.
- Together with Melilla, forms the European Union’s only land border with Africa.
- Frequently used as an entry point for migrants seeking access to Europe.
Schengen Area
- Established under the Schengen Agreement (1985).
- Schengen Convention: 1990.
- Implemented from 1995.
- Comprises 29 countries (25 EU members and 4 non-EU countries).
- Non-EU Schengen Members: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein
[2019] Which of the following adopted a law on data protection and privacy for its citizens known as ‘General Data Protection Regulation’ in April 2016 and started implementation of it from 25th May, 2018?
(a) Australia
(b) Canada
(c) The European Union
(d) The United States of America.