After local authorities and social groups called for urgent intervention, the Spanish government will send Ceuta a €309 million emergency aid package. The decree, approved at the latest Council of Ministers meeting, is designed to reinforce impressive services and address migration pressures, while providing direct support to businesses and workers in the city.
Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said the package aims to restore confidence among local companies and employees. It includes €118 million for the care of unaccompanied migrant minors. Of that, €60 million is allocated specifically to Ceuta, with the remainder directed to the Ministry of Social Inclusion and Migration, which coordinates assistance in the city.
Security is another focus: €90 million is earmarked to strengthen law enforcement and public safety infrastructure. A further €80 million will go to local businesses and workers as direct aid and other forms of support, with the aim of stabilizing the economic environment and protecting jobs. A dedicated €21 million will fund impressive public services, including healthcare and education, with justice and water supply also covered.
To address ongoing challenges with migrant accommodation, the government has approved a new list of locations for people still living on the streets. The sites include plots at the port and land owned by the Ministry of Housing; a military barracks is also on the list. At the same time, the government will remove sports halls and a flour factory from the list, with the military hospital also set to go, in line with requests from Ceuta’s local administration.
At the press conference after the Council of Ministers, government spokesperson Elma Saiz said relations with the Royal Household remain positive, pointing to regular, open communication. She also said details of a potential visit by King Felipe VI to Ceuta would be announced once plans are finalized.
The latest intervention follows a series of government actions to stabilize Ceuta amid ongoing migration and social pressures. Madrid previously established a single command structure to coordinate the crisis response, as detailed in a previous report on the central government's direct involvement in Ceuta. The new financial package extends government support as the city faces these challenges.
Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African coast, has faced repeated surges in migrant arrivals in recent years, straining local resources and infrastructure. Its position at the EU’s external border makes the city a focal point for migration policy and humanitarian response. The government’s measures are intended to provide immediate relief and reinforce long-term stability for Ceuta’s residents, with support also directed to businesses and vulnerable groups.
