Spain’s Council of Ministers has approved 21.5 million euros in direct funding for Ceuta and Melilla to help cover the high cost of supplying water in the two North African cities. Ceuta will receive an additional 2 million euros in response to a recent surge in migration, bringing the total for 2026 to 23.5 million euros.
Unlike most regions in Spain, Ceuta and Melilla cannot use traditional water sources. Their location means they depend on expensive desalination plants, so the central government provides regular subsidies to keep water services running. The 2026 funding matches last year’s ordinary support, but Ceuta’s share rises to 9.2 million euros with the emergency funds included. Melilla’s allocation remains at 14.3 million euros.
Ceuta will receive 7.2 million euros in standard support, plus 2 million specifically for the aftermath of the July migration crisis. Melilla’s funding remains unchanged, with no extra aid announced. The funds go directly to city administrations for infrastructure and public services, not to individual residents.
Official government estimates put total budgetary support for Ceuta and Melilla at up to 507.5 million euros by 2031, covering structural and crisis-response measures.
Desalination is the basic reason for these ongoing costs. Turning seawater into drinking water is much more expensive than using rivers or reservoirs, and both cities have no real alternative. In 2025, the government provided the same total amount. That included 8 million euros for desalination plants and 3.25 million for other projects in Ceuta, while Melilla received 10.25 million. The latest decree does not specify whether this breakdown will be repeated, so some details are still pending.
The extra 2 million euros for Ceuta responds directly to the migration crisis on July 30 and 31, 2026. The money will be delivered through a separate legal process, not as part of the usual annual support. The government has not yet published the final details of the new decree, including its official number and publication date. The exact process for distributing the funds is also unclear. City officials are preparing to allocate the money once the rules are clear.
The government has linked the emergency funding package to strengthening basic services in Ceuta, identifying water supply as a critically impressive resource. RTVE and Moncloa report that the 2 million euros in extraordinary aid will be used to improve the city’s desalination plant. The emergency funds must be spent in 2026 on infrastructure and public services, not direct payments to residents.
For residents, the announcement does not mean direct financial help. The subsidies are for municipal use only, and families and individuals will not have an application process. Anyone seeking personal assistance will need to turn to other social programs, as noted by Talent24h.
The decision reflects the exceptional costs Ceuta and Melilla face. While other parts of Spain debate water management and climate adaptation, the two cities remain dependent on state support because of their geography.
