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| - The EU commissioner for home affairs, Ylva Johansson, on Tuesday urged Morocco to "prevent irregular departures" of migrants after some 6,000 entered Spain's Ceuta enclave from the north African country. Johansson, speaking to the European Parliament, called the migrant arrivals to Ceuta "unprecedented" and "worrying", and noted "a very substantial number of them (are) children". She said: "The most important thing now is that Morocco continues to commit to prevent irregular departures, and that those that do not have the right to stay are orderly and effectively returned. "Spanish borders are European borders." The migrants began flowing into Ceuta on Monday, many of them swimming and crossing by foot at low tide along the coastline from Moroccan territory. A smaller number, 86 migrants, made it into Melilla, Spain's other enclave in Morocco. Spain said Tuesday it has returned 1,500 of the 6,000 migrants. The arrivals are happening at a time of high diplomatic tensions between Madrid and Rabat, after Spain extended medical treatment to the leader of the Polisario Front movement fighting for independence of the Western Sahara, which Morocco claims as its own. Johansson said "the European Union wants to build a relationship with Morocco based on trust and shared commitments. Migration is a key element in this regard." She said that she and the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, were in contact with Spanish authorities over the developments. rmb/dc/wdb
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