Photo: APC
Video: RTS Morning Program
Source: RTS Morning Program

 

 

Belgrade, 21 September 2026 – The Board Director of the Asylum Protection Center, Radoš Đurović, stated in RTS’s Morning Program that the mass entry of tens of thousands of people into the Spanish enclave Ceuta at the end of July revealed serious weaknesses in the European system of migration management and that “such an influx cannot be spontaneous.”
According to him, after the initial mass entry, 10,000 to 12,000 people remained in Ceuta, while Spanish authorities provided 8,300 accommodation places. Around 2,000 to 4,000 migrants are still staying on the streets and beaches, despite the removal of improvised camps. “Force is useless if you have nowhere to place them,” Đurović said, pointing to the logistical limits of the Spanish administration.

Đurović assessed that the situation in Ceuta is the first test of the new EU Pact on Asylum and Migration, adopted on June 12, but that its implementation is slow and inconsistent. Spain had to conduct triage of all arrivals within seven days, which he described as “almost impossible.” A little over 2,000 people entered the process, while most returned to Morocco on their own.
Triage, which includes identification, registration, fingerprinting, and vulnerability assessment, can last up to 12 weeks, and Ceuta, as a small territory, does not have the capacity to carry out the procedure within the prescribed deadlines. Spain requested operational support from the EU on August 28 to accelerate the triage process.
Đurović particularly emphasized that around 2,000 minors are protected, have been assigned guardians, and must not be detained or deported until all circumstances are clarified.

The Board Director of the Asylum Protection Center stressed that the arrival of “60,000 to 80,000 people in a single day, suddenly, in one territory” indicates organized activity. “That is certainly not something spontaneous,” he said, adding that the incident may be “a test of the EU’s flexibility and ability to respond to such challenges.”
He noted that Spain has significant capacities in the continental part of the country, but due to the limited space in Ceuta, it could not quickly transfer people to the enclave. Spain also requested financial assistance from the EU, which it received only on September 9, almost a month after the incident.
Essentially, Spain does not want to further strain already fragile relations within the European Union. Although it could have relocated part of the people to continental Spain and accelerated processing there, it appears this was avoided to prevent new criticism, tensions, and a potential weakening of European solidarity on this issue.

Đurović warned that calls for another mass crossing into Ceuta on September 23 are again spreading on social networks in Morocco, which he considers “a worrying sign.” He described relations between Spain and Morocco, as well as broader EU cooperation with North African countries, as complex.

Speaking about the rise of far right parties in Europe, especially in Germany, Đurović said that “failed integration is the main trigger” for changes in public attitudes. He reminded that Germany has received more than 1.5 million refugees since 2015, and then at least 2 million Ukrainians. He stressed that Germany technically could not receive so many people in such a short period and integrate them successfully at the same time.

“It is completely objective that there is no Europe without migration, just as there is no Serbia without migration. That is reality. Without intensive migration, our country would not be able to function by 2050 – from the economy, through the pension system, to overall social development. The arrival of people is not something to run away from; the challenge lies in integration, inclusion, and creating conditions for these people to become part of society.
However, when there are cultural, religious, and other barriers, as well as antagonized local populations who see things not functioning in their environment, fear emerges. Citizens think: if foreigners are coming, they will not be like us, they will not adopt our values, so we must defend ourselves. If a political elite appears that uses this fear and promises to ‘solve the problem’ by ensuring that no one else comes, people without experience in this field may believe that is the solution. But that is an illusion. Stopping migration would mean shutting down our own societies.
Many countries are not clear enough in communicating with the public. They need labor, yet at the same time advocate fences. Citizens are not told about the benefits or risks, nor what can be accepted and what cannot. That is why simple messages are used, because it is easier for people to view things in simplified terms. But what is truly needed is migration and successful integration, along with ensuring adequate security and including people in society,” Đurović concluded.

You can watch the full program at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-eYuOrdkEk&t=901s