Spain has asked the European Commission to deploy additional Frontex and Europol resources in Ceuta, alongside support from the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), to simplify the identification and processing of migrants who recently crossed the border irregularly. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska sent the request to Beate Gminder, Director-General for Migration and Home Affairs, after a sharp increase in arrivals at the Ceuta-Morocco frontier at the end of July, when around 80,000 people entered Spanish territory without authorization.
The Spanish government is seeking to extend Frontex’s presence in the region by prolonging Operation Minerva, which covers the ports of Algeciras, Tarifa, and Ceuta, until September 2. Authorities have also requested ten additional Frontex agents to speed up information gathering from migrants who have not yet been registered. The Interior Ministry considers EUAA involvement impressive for conducting interviews and providing interpreters. Most procedures are expected to take place remotely because space in Ceuta is limited.
After triage and, where applicable, border asylum procedures are completed, Spain plans to coordinate with Frontex to organize returns to Morocco or other countries of origin, using the agency’s mediation mechanisms and existing agreements. The government has also requested that the Duque de Ahumada, an oceanic vessel operated by the Guardia Civil and co-financed by the EU, remain in Spanish waters through 2027. Spain also wants to keep the satellite imaging system monitoring the border with Morocco in place to maintain surveillance of maritime and pre-frontier areas. For criminal investigations, the Interior Ministry has asked Europol to deepen operational cooperation against migrant smuggling networks.
The measures follow an earlier offer of assistance from the European Commission, which proposed support from various EU agencies in response to the crisis in Ceuta. Spain’s latest request is part of a broader effort to manage the unprecedented influx and help repatriations alongside asylum requests. The situation has drawn attention in recent months, particularly after incidents involving violence and security concerns, including the arrest of Moroccan migrants following attacks on soldiers.
Spain has also applied for more than €32 million in emergency funding from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (FAMI) and the Border and Visa Management Instrument (IGFV). The application is under review in Brussels, and the government expects a prompt decision to help cover the costs of managing the crisis. Ceuta’s position as a Spanish enclave bordering Morocco has made it a focal point for migration flows into Europe, often requiring rapid coordination between national and EU authorities. Spain considers the involvement of Frontex and other agencies critical to maintaining order and processing migrants properly while upholding security and humanitarian standards at the border.
