Fears have been raised that last week's horrifying scenes in Ceuta could soon lead to a fresh migrant crisis on Britain's shores.
An exclusive report seen by GB News from think tank Facts4EU in collaboration with Stand for Our Sovereignty and The Campaign for an Independent Britain warns of the potential ramifications for Britain after the events of last week.
Despite Ceuta lying on the African continent, it forms part of the European Union as a Spanish exclave.
Its sole member of the Congress of Deputies - Spain's equivalent to the House of Commons - hails from the anti-immigration Vox party.
Vox has been a fierce opponent of socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's ruling coalition Government - which threw open the doors to hundreds of thousands of migrants just weeks ago.
The Government told Spain people to expect 500,000 migrants under an amnesty programme where illegal arrivals could fast-track their way to residency.
The latest official figures show more than 1.2 million people have applied.
Former Tory minister Lord Redwood told GB News how Ceuta formed "one of the weak front doors into the EU for those coming from Africa and the Middle East".
"Facts4EU have highlighted how this door is never locked and can be pushed open by thousands of illegal migrants rallied by social media to get on the move," the Tory peer added.
“Once in Ceuta, the migrants might find their way to Spain, take advantage of freedom of movement in the EU and soon arrive in Calais.
“The pressures of weak borders in the south of the EU are felt in the Channel when the migrants set their sights on coming to the UK. Andy Burnham contacted the Spanish PM to be reassured most of the illegal arrivals have gone back.
“This is far from reassuring to most of us who fear the demonstration of the weak front door will lead others to try it. The PM should stop the boats, smash the gangs, and say no to more movement of people.”
During Theresa May’s premiership, Facts4EU reported that Ceuta had the second-largest youth unemployment of any region in the EU, at 66.1 per cent.
Neighbouring Spanish exclave Melilla, meanwhile, ranks first.
READ MORE ON THE MIGRANT CRISIS:
- MAPPED: The eight countries driving nearly three quarters of all illegal migrant crossings
- Illegal migrants spotted running off into Essex countryside after sneaking into lorry from Spain
- Children send heartbreaking letters to Andy Burnham over plan to put 1,250 migrants in tiny village
Following the "refugee" crisis of 2015-16, the EU put in place a series of measures to deal with emergency situations in a member state.
Where large groups of applicants are arriving from a specific country or region of origin and are likely to be in "need of protection", the European Commission can effectively fast-track their entry into the bloc.
“This procedure allows for the omission of the personal interview and should be concluded in less than four weeks,” EU guidance reveals.
Even in an emergency, the hope is for the EU to have concluded matters in four weeks.
Lord Redwood concluded: “The UK needs to heed the warnings of Facts4EU and the events in Ceuta. The EU has a huge problem controlling its borders and limiting migration.
“The EU wants a UK reset to allow the EU to send us more people to live and work in the UK to relieve the pressures on the continent.
“Spain is currently granting an amnesty to over one million who will all eventually gain rights to travel around the EU.
"They may well want to come to the UK. Out of the EU we got rid of our Dublin Treaty obligations which made us take more migrants than we were able to send back to the continent.
“The last thing we need is a closer relationship with the EU to make us take more young people in.
“We do not have spare homes, enough utility capacity, extra benefits money, or more jobs to become part of the EU porous border system.”
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