Migration not 'massive,' but 'new blood' needed: Spain

By Hasan Esen

MADRID (AA) - Spain's foreign minister said on Monday that his country does not face "massive" migration but that in fact Europe needs "new blood" due to its current low birth rates.

Josep Borrell, speaking at a joint press conference with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi, acknowledged the fear that irregular migration causes among some but added that the situation is under control.

"Compared with 1.3 million Syrian refugees in Jordan, 600 people is not massive," Borrell said.

Last Thursday around 800 migrants and refugees from sub-Sahara stormed the border fence separating Spain's north African enclave Ceuta from Morocco, resulting in dozens of injuries while 602 of them managed to cross over.

Borrell said they are talking about 20,000 migrants for a country like Spain, which has a population of more than 40 million.

He said migration could help Europe, as many European countries have low birth rates.

If Europe does not want to turn into an aging continent, it needs new blood, and that new blood does not come from its own capacity to procreate, Borrell said.

According to International Organization for Migration data, at least 21,000 migrants have arrived in Spain via sea since January, and 304 people lost their lives during the migration journey.