Spain approves draft immigration reform to align with EU rules

The Spanish government has approved a preliminary bill to reform the country’s immigration and asylum legislation, Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said on August 25.

The reform is aimed at bringing Spanish law into line with the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, Caliber.Az reports via Spanish media.

The authorities have also declared Ceuta a situation of interest for national security and established a unified command to manage the migration crisis there. The command will be headed by Territorial Policy Minister Ángel Víctor Torres.

Under the proposed legislation, migrants would undergo a screening procedure to determine whether they should be returned.

In Spain, the procedure would last 72 hours, compared with the seven days provided for under European rules. Any extension would require a court order.

By Aghakazim Guliyev