Spain: 1,200 migrants arrived by sea in 2 days, call for "a European solution"

The Spanish Minister of the Interior on Saturday called for a "European solution (to) the problem of immigration", the Spanish Coast Guard has rescued in two days more than 1,200 migrants at sea.

" We came to see on the ground the problems that exist, the problem of immigration which is a problem of Europe, which requires a European solution, "told the press Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, the new government of the Socialist Pedro Sanchez, visiting the province of Cadiz, according to a recording transmitted by the prefecture.

He was traveling in the south of the country to see how the police and the Red Cross welcome migrants

The public service rescue at sea had announced Saturday on his Twitter account to have helped during the day 334 people aboard 17 makeshift boats. On Friday, the Coast Guard had rescued 888 people in one day

Spain became the first gateway for illegal migrants to Europe this year, surpbading Italy.

"C ' was expected, "said the new minister, reproaching the previous government of the conservative Mariano Rajoy" a lack of forecasts ", the arrivals by the sea having jumped since last year.

" We are opening a center "in the port of Algeciras (Andalusia), which will have a capacity of 600 people, he said, evoking a work" against the clock. "

More than 20,992 migrants arrived in Spain by sea since the beginning of the year and 304 died attempting the crossing, according to an International Organization for Migration (IOM) count done last week, on July 25.

Italy had at this date 18,130 arrivals and more than a thousand deaths – 1,111 – while the G There were 15,528 arrivals and 89 dead.