Pedro Sánchez has committed 309 million euros to the Government's promise to restore normality in Ceuta after the mass arrival of migrants. He also announced direct payments for the city's self-employed workers and small and medium-sized businesses from early October. He accused PP and Vox of using the crisis as a political weapon instead of helping resolve it.
The clash came at the PSC's Fiesta de la Rosa in La Pineda de Gavà, Barcelona. Sánchez appeared with Salvador Illa and municipal mayor Gemma Badia. The prime minister said the opposition had spent eight years treating Spain's difficulties as an chance to weaken the Government. The 309-million-euro package, approved by the Spanish Congress on 16 September, includes 118 million euros for the reception of minors and humanitarian assistance, 90 million for security, 80 million for businesses and workers, and 21 million for basic services.
His criticism targeted both parties. Sánchez called their conduct destructive. He argued that they cared more about getting a photograph of the crisis than offering practical answers for Ceuta.
The Government's financial package is the basic measure put forward by the prime minister. Sánchez said the 309 million euros represented the largest social shield in the city's history. He added that 80 million would be mobilised before the end of the year.
In Sánchez's presentation, that second figure amounts to about 4% of Ceuta's gross domestic product. The package is also intended to provide a dignified response for people affected by the crisis and strengthen border controls. The European Commission had previously allocated 114.7 million euros in emergency assistance to Ceuta. Reports put the total mobilised through European and Spanish measures at more than 423 million euros, though those figures refer to separate sources of support.
The pressure on the city has grown into a wider fight between the Government and the opposition. Earlier reporting covered accusations aimed at Juan Jesús Vivas and Alberto Núñez Feijóo over their handling of the migration crisis.
Sánchez said he had made his commitment to Ceuta clear on 30 and 31 July. He repeated that the Government would provide the resources needed to restore normality in the autonomous city after the mass entry of migrants.
Reports on the parliamentary vote said the measures had been in force since 2 September and required parliamentary confirmation within 30 days. Congress approved the package on 16 September. The Partido Popular supported its ratification, while Vox voted against it. The vote exposed the political divide over the Government's response.
His speech also connected the dispute over Ceuta to the Government's wider programme in Catalonia. Sánchez defended Salvador Illa's management. He said the region in 2026 was closer to the version sought by Catalans because attention was focused on what it creates, rather than on conflict with Madrid.
He credited the PSC with putting coexistence, respect and reforms first. In Sánchez's account, Illa's government is focused on reindustrialisation, new technologies and stronger public services, rather than governing through constant conflict.
Financing added another point of tension. Sánchez defended a new autonomous community funding system that he said would provide more than 21 billion euros in additional resources. He accused PP and Vox of blocking access to the funds and urged other political forces to support the proposal.
Opposition criticism has focused on the size and rollout of the aid, as well as migration policy. PP representatives have demanded tougher action, including measures involving the return and transfer of migrants. They have also used the dispute to call for the Government's resignation. In the European Parliament, representatives of PP and Vox have linked the episode to a wider dispute involving EU-Morocco relations. They have described the pressure on Ceuta as a form of hybrid warfare.
The Government has combined border reinforcement with economic support and aid for people affected by the crisis. Sánchez has portrayed PP and Vox as more interested in political images than implementation. The dispute will be judged by the funding and measures that reach Ceuta.
