Brussels changes its tone with Ceuta's minors and reminds Spain that it has the "duty" to protect them

Brussels has changed its tone this Thursday on the future of migrant minors remaining in Ceuta. Two days after defending that European regulations allow their return to Morocco, the European Commission has reminded that Spain has the "duty" to protect vulnerable minors and guarantee their safety.

The nuance comes as the Government works with the Ceuta authorities on the urgent transfer of some 500 girls to the Peninsula. The Executive presents this group as especially vulnerable due to their age and the situations of violence or lack of protection from which many of them come.

The Commission learned about the plan through information published in recent hours. Its spokesperson for Internal Affairs, Markus Lammert, explained that Brussels is in contact with the Spanish authorities to learn the details and that it still lacks formal communication about the decision.

"The protection of vulnerable minors must be guaranteed," Lammert stressed. The spokesperson placed this protection among the direct responsibilities of the Spanish authorities. The clarification softens the harshness of the message launched on Tuesday, when Brussels emphasized the rapid return to Morocco of all persons remaining irregularly in Ceuta and expressly included unaccompanied minors.

The Commission maintains its pressure for returns to be effective. Lammert reiterated the "clear expectation" that all migrants who entered irregularly will be returned to Morocco, although he added that the process must fully respect European law and international standards.

Brussels' "all" goes through each case file

Community legislation contemplates the return of migrant minors, but surrounds it with special guarantees. Article 10 of the European returns directive obliges authorities to study their situation and consider the best interests of the child before making any decision.

Authorities must also verify that, upon arrival in the destination country, the child will be in the care of a family member, a designated guardian, or an appropriate reception center. The Court of Justice of the European Union also established that this evaluation must be general, thorough, and individualized.

Within that framework, collective or automatic returns are outside the law. Age, family situation, health status, and the existence of a safe environment in Morocco are among the circumstances that Spain must analyze.

The situation of the 500 girls makes this obligation especially relevant. The Government maintains that many are young and come from dysfunctional family environments or those marked by violence. In these cases, proving a safe reception in Morocco can be much more complex. The transfer to the Peninsula would function as an immediate protection measure and would allow alleviating the pressure on Ceuta's reception resources. The administrative situation of each minor and an eventual return must then be resolved through individual files.

The clarification made this Thursday also does not guarantee that the 500 girls will remain permanently in Spain. Brussels places the interest of each minor as a prerequisite and requires that any return have real guarantees.

Spain is still finalizing the request for aid

The Commission has also confirmed that it has not yet received a definitive request for assistance from the Spanish Government. Both administrations are working to complete a request that could mobilize economic and operational resources.

Among the available options are funds from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, intended to finance reception and assistance, as well as possible reinforcements from Frontex, Europol, and the European Union Agency for Asylum.

Brussels is also maintaining contacts with Spain and Morocco to facilitate returns and strengthen border control. The Commission insists that departures must occur effectively, always within the community legal framework.

The fate of the 500 girls will now depend on an individual assessment. Before any return, Spain will have to certify who will receive each minor and what protection they will have in Morocco. Without a family, a guardian, or a safe center, the return cannot be executed.