Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are advocating for the urgent deployment of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, known as Frontex, to Spain's autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, located on the North African coast.

This demand follows a recent fact-finding mission to the area by a delegation from the European People's Party (EPP) group.

EPP Group Vice-Chair Dolors Montserrat emphasized the necessity of immediate action from Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, to reinforce border security with additional police and border guards.

Montserrat noted that Frontex can only be deployed if the Spanish government formally requests assistance from the EU.

During a press briefing, Montserrat expressed concern that the Sánchez administration has not allocated sufficient resources to Ceuta and Melilla and has not effectively implemented the EU Migration Pact aimed at combating human trafficking networks.

"These Spanish cities are European borders and must be protected with the same resources and technology as other parts of the Union," Montserrat stated.

The MEPs' two-day mission included meetings with representatives of local police forces, although the Spanish government reportedly attempted to obstruct these discussions, leading the delegation to meet with police unions instead.

EPP Group Vice-Chair Tomas Tobé acknowledged the dedication of the Policía Nacional and Guardia Civil, highlighting their critical role in safeguarding the EU's external borders.

Tobé remarked, "Migration is not only a question for Melilla or Spain—it is a question for Europe.

We need to work together if we want to take back control of migration.

We must act now.

I hope this mission will be the first step towards securing more European support on the ground."

The fact-finding mission included other notable MEPs such as Lena Düpont, the EPP Group’s Spokeswoman on Civil Liberties; Tomáš Zdechovský; and Spanish EPP members Juan Ignacio Zoido and Javier Zarzalejos, who chairs the Committee on Civil Liberties.