Joint work by Spain and Senegal in fight against illegal immigration is "intense and fruitful"

Jorge Fernández Díaz remarked that the collaboration between the two countries on security issues "can be described as exemplary", and is "particularly intense and fruitful in relation to cooperation in the fight against illegal immigration". This can be seen in the fact that no vessel embarking from Senegal has reached the Canary Islands in the last five years.

Jorge Fernández Díaz reminded his Senegalese counterpart that Spain firmly believes that the best formula for tackling illegal immigration and the mafias that profit from this activity is to step up the comprehensive approach to cooperation on security issues focused on prevention at origin and on working with countries which, like Senegal, have become "our priority and strategic partners".

In this regard, Jorge Fernández Díaz pointed out that this "comprehensive response" must result in strengthening diplomatic relations with countries of origin and transit, and this must translate into an increase in logistics, human and economic resources in terms of development cooperation. This requires stepping up intelligence and personnel resources from law enforcement and security agencies and reaching agreement on joint patrols by sending own resources and personnel, together with ensuring the involvement of the European Union and FRONTEX. "Spain and Senegal are aware that this integrated raft of responses constitutes a model that works", underlined the Spanish Home Affairs Minister.

Jorge Fernández Díaz also highlighted that this is the message that Spain is constantly reiterating to the Member States of the European Union, citing the model of collaboration that currently exists between Senegal and Spain, "which is admired by the rest of the EU countries". He also recalled the Spanish and Senegalese participation in various important European Union projects such as Operation HERA launched by FRONTEX, the Seahorse Project on the exchange of information and the West Sahel Project.

Jorge Fernández Díaz pointed out that "all these major initiatives will enjoy continuity through the proposal made by Spain at the latest meeting of the Rabat Process - the so-called Blue Sahel Project", which seeks not only to combat illegal immigration but also to fight "other latent threats in the region, such as terrorism and drug trafficking".

On this issue, Jorge Fernández Díaz conveyed the need to "make further progress in terms of collaboration and commitment" to his Senegalese counterpart, through boosting and stepping up other areas of bilateral cooperation, specifically in such areas as fighting terrorism, drug trafficking, cyber-crime and laundering profits from criminal activities.

Acknowledgement of Senegal's commitment to and collaboration with Spain

At the end of the meeting, held at the headquarters for the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministers for Home Affairs of Spain and Senegal travelled to the Directorate General of the Guardia Civil, where Jorge Fernández Díaz bestowed the Great Cross for Civil Merit on his Senegalese counterpart. "The strength of our valuable cooperation ties can be seen through this public recognition in appreciation of your committed and loyal collaboration", said the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs to Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo.

The two ministers then visited the installations of the Guardia Civil's Coastal and Border Maritime Surveillance Coordination Centre (Spanish acronym: CECORVIGMAR), accompanied by the Director General of the Guardia Civil, Arsenio Fernández de Mesa.

The visit by the Senegalese Home Affairs Minister to Spain was due to conclude on Wednesday afternoon with a visit to the Police Complex in Canillas, at which Jorge Fernández Díaz and Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo were due to be accompanied by the Director General of the Police, Ignacio Cosidó.