The EU maintains contacts with Morocco on the jump to the Melilla fence but avoids requesting an independent investigation

BRUSSELS, June 27 (EUROPA PRESS) -

The European Union maintains contacts with the Moroccan authorities to "understand the details" of the jump to the Melilla fence that left at least 23 people dead, according to the official balance of the authorities, although it has avoided requesting an independent investigation into what happened and has pointed to the role of the mafias that traffic migrants.

"We are speaking with Moroccan authorities to understand the detailed circumstances of what has happened and we coordinate closely with the Spanish authorities," said the EU Foreign Affairs spokeswoman, Nabila Massrali, at a press conference from Brussels.

At all times, the spokeswoman for European diplomacy has pointed out the importance of clarifying last Friday's episode, in the midst of the attempt by more than 2,000 sub-Saharans to cross the fence in Melilla, although she has avoided asking Rabat for an independent investigation or censoring that Moroccan authorities are burying the bodies of deceased migrants.

Massrali has had words of support for the families of the fatalities and the people who have been injured, as well as the Moroccan and Spanish agents. "The violence and death at the border crossing in Melilla are a great cause for concern," she said, stressing the need to strengthen coordination to combat the mafias that traffic migrants.

On police action, the spokeswoman stressed that the "priority" is the safety of migrants and avoiding the excessive use of force, stressing that the EU wants to work with its partners for the comprehensive management of migration.

Community diplomacy thus follows the line set by the European Commission, whose head of the Interior, Ylva Johansson, expressed his concern this Sunday about the deaths at the massive crossing in Melilla, while denouncing the "violent assault" on a border international.

This Monday, the African Union has expressed its concern about the "violent and degrading treatment" of migrants who tried to cross into Spain and has called for an "immediate" investigation to clarify the event.