Muna, the newborn baby 'EUnavfor Med' sparks controversy in Spain

(B2) Muna Navarra will not have the right of residence in Spain...

This little girl was born on the Spanish frigate Navarre shortly before Christmas, after his mother, along with 215 other migrants, was rescued by Spanish sailors on Thursday, December 23.

A beautiful 3,2 kg baby

The delivery was quite long: it lasted all night and ended happily on Friday morning. According to the established formula: "the mother and the child are doing well". Beautiful baby of 3 kg 200, Muna bears the name of her aunt and in middle name that of the Spanish frigate. Which becomes a tradition.

Mother and daughter sent to Italy...

But Madrid did not want to go further and follow the example of Berlin, which in 2016 granted the stay to the little Sophia born on board one of its ships which participated as the Navarre to the European maritime operation EUNAVFOR Med (read: What happened to little Sophia?). On the morning of December 24, a helicopter from the frigate transported mother and daughter to Catania (Italy), where they were immediately taken to Cannizzara hospital. Most of the other migrants had been transshipped to the British survey vessel Hms echo (H-87) which is also participating in the European operation.

Madrid embarrassed at the corners

However, in front of the press, the Minister of Education and spokesperson for the Spanish government, Inigo Mendez de Vigo (Editor's note, former MEP), had celebrated the birth aboard the Spanish frigate, the night of Thursday, December 22, as if it was a great Christmas story. " Welcome to Spain, little girl. I think that bodes well for this Christmas, he said the next day according to the daily El Pais. Everyone then thought that the mother and daughter would have the right to stay and would be repatriated to Spain. But the government was very ambiguous in its response.

Comply with European and Spanish law

Spain wants to act in accordance with European standards ». Although the baby was born in Spanish territory, the ship Navarra, she has no right to Spanish nationality or residency in Spain. Nationality can only be acquired if one of the parents is Spanish, or when the identity of the parents is unknown, the child then having no nationality.

...and the protocol of Operation Sophia

Another reason for the transfer to Italy, the desire to " respect the EUNAVFOR Med protocol “says the Ministry of Defense. " The ship was in the midst of a military operation, in which several countries are participating. All ships must bring the castaways they rescue to Italy. This is where they are registered and where their situation is studied to find out if they are entitled to asylum or if they should be sent back to their country. Muna's family comes from Ivory Coast, a country which is not, in principle, considered by the EU as dangerous.

A public debate?

However, the controversy is raging in Spain. The mother is only 17 years old and is therefore a minor. In addition, she would have been raped during her trip to the Libyan coast, according to our colleagues from El Mundo (1). So many reasons that should at least justify the right of asylum, as many editorialists point out. An option that the Spanish Interior Ministry does not want closed.

A possible reconsideration of the Muna case

His spokesperson said that " the fact of having been brought to Catania, in accordance with European standards, does not prejudge anything » from the following. He also insists on the possibility for the mother to apply for nationality “ whenever she wants." But there is no automatic right, he reminds. “The fact of being born in Spanish territory makes it possible to reduce the procedure but does not automatically give the right to nationality ».

A matter that has become state

It was therefore the presidency of the government which took charge of the file, in order to study “the possibilities for mother and daughters to travel to Spain”. “Spain will not allow [Muna] to be stateless insists the government spokesperson.

(Leonor Hubaut with NGV)

(1) Editor's note: which is not an isolated case. According to a study carried out by the FGS Berlin, which took part in the European mission, cases of sexual violence are common on the immigration route, particularly for young women. Read article to follow