00:02The Spanish government has announced reforms to immigration and asylum laws following the
00:07migration crisis in Söta.
00:11The Council of Ministers has approved a draft bill to bring Spanish legislation into line
00:15with the European Union's new migration pact.
00:21The decision comes after weeks of criticism over the handling of a crisis that has left
00:26dozens of deaths completely overwhelms Söta and becomes one of the most serious in Spain's
00:31recent history.
00:33The legislation has been implemented by a new law regulating the international protection
00:38as well as a partial modification of the law of rights and liberties of foreigners and
00:44its social integration.
00:47They are projects that have developed with an evidently guarantee of respect to human rights
00:53and migrant people, the same approach that led us, as well as they know, to reject the
01:01rule of return to third countries.
01:04But it is also a perspective that conjugates the necessary management of our borders to
01:11guarantee the security of our country.
01:15The reform introduces new controls in Söta, Merila and the Canary Islands as well as a procedure
01:20that can last up to 12 weeks for certain asylum applications.
01:24The government has also established a single command structure to manage the crisis while
01:28Defense Minister Margarita Robles has apologized to the people of Söta who felt abandoned
01:33and has defended Spanish sovereignty over Söta and Merila.
01:59The government is also preparing new physical barriers along the Söta border and is working
02:04with Brussels to strengthen Frontex's involvement.
