Latvian PM reprimands Interior Minister over unsanctioned letter to Spain

Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs has reprimanded Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava after his letter to Spain about the situation in Ceuta caused an unexpected international reaction. Kulbergs stressed that any future communication with foreign countries must first be coordinated with the Foreign Ministry.

According to Latvian Television's Panorama programme, the letter was received sensitively in Madrid, where the tone was perceived as arrogant. Unofficial sources told LTV that the Spanish side was upset, with Spain pointing out behind closed doors that Latvia was choosing to attack Spain at a time when Spanish soldiers are defending Latvia and Spain itself is facing a migrant influx.

Dombrava said the letter expressed solidarity with Spain, called for the issue to be addressed at EU level and for stronger EU external border protection. It also indicated readiness to provide technical support under the common solidarity mechanism. He stressed that illegal migrants should not be legalized, noting that many countries see such a move as a risk to Schengen security. He said he had received no reaction from Spain, although a meeting of interior ministers produced a “fairly positive or neutral” response.

Kulbergs praised Dombrava's zeal and initiative on border protection, but said that sometimes these initiatives go too far. In this case, coordination with the Foreign Ministry was needed. He suggested Dombrava may have wanted to share Latvia's experience in dealing with hybrid attacks, but such matters are internationally sensitive and must be vetted with the Foreign Ministry so that government messages remain consistent and the government is kept informed.

Meanwhile, after the migrant crisis in Ceuta, EU interior ministers agreed in a videoconference to step up the fight against migrant smuggling networks, enforce deportations more strictly and improve information exchange. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said 72,000 illegal migrants had arrived in Ceuta, a city of 85,000, and at least 72 people died. Some 70,000 have since left, but the incident raised tensions between Madrid and other European partners. Ministers also pointed to the need for better crisis coordination and stronger monitoring of social networks.