King Felipe VI claims that "Ceuta is Spain" and promises the people of Ceuta that they will not be "alone or defenseless"

"Ceuta is Spain and Ceuta is Europe". Felipe VI reaffirmed this Tuesday the autonomous city's belonging to Spain and conveyed to its inhabitants a commitment of support in the face of the crisis opened by the massive entries of migrants at the end of July. "Ceuta faces a difficult challenge, but we are not going to leave you alone or defenseless," he assured during his speech at the Parador, on his first visit to the city with Queen Letizia.

The monarch extended that defense to Melilla, where the Kings will be this Wednesday. Both cities, he pointed out, are "an inalienable part of the political and national reality that is Spain". Regarding the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, he stated that "they are not negotiable" and that "they are indisputable", adding that in the face of any risk there is an obligation to defend and preserve them.

Felipe VI has recalled the images of July 30 and 31 and has described the massive entry as a "violation of our border" that was "a shock for everyone", especially for the people of Ceuta. He has acknowledged its social, political, economic, and psychological consequences, which continue to condition the life of the city, and has assured that its inhabitants have been in his thoughts daily ever since.

A European border and a call for unity

The King has placed the protection of Ceuta and Melilla among the shared responsibilities of the European Union (EU). "Any threat" against its borders affects the entire EU, he stressed. He has demanded that the values of European integration translate into solidarity and commitment to protect that external border, an approach he has also defended in his recent contacts with France and Finland.

Regarding Morocco, Felipe VI has advocated for a relationship that contributes to regional stability, peace, and security, based on "mutual trust and respect". He has indicated that Spain maintains the will to work for this understanding, although he has specified that "making it possible requires good faith from both sides". The defense of Spanish sovereignty and cooperation with the neighboring country thus occupied a central part of his speech.

The monarch has also called for unity among local institutions, state institutions, and political forces, with effective collaboration and "practical and tangible" solutions. "It is time for public authorities, local and state institutions, including the Crown as a symbol of their unity and permanence, and political forces to be, for us to be, without fissures, without ambiguity or half-measures, up to the level of our citizenry, up to your level," he declared.

This appeal has been accompanied by recognition of Ceuta's society. The King has praised its "temper and courage" and its daily coexistence "above races, languages, and religions", which he considers a lesson for the rest of the country. He has also thanked the work of police, civil guards, military personnel, health personnel, Civil Protection officials, volunteers, and other public servants during these months.

Legal returns and respect for migrants

Felipe VI has defended that those who entered irregularly "must return to their place of origin, as soon as possible and through legally established channels". His message links this return to compliance with the law and recognizes the difficulties that Ceuta is still experiencing to recover normality. During the speech, he pointed out that most of those who entered have already returned and that many other people have been housed in reception centers.

While they remain in the city, he has demanded that migrants be treated "always with dignity and humanity", with all the guarantees provided by law. At the same time, he has asked that they be required "scrupulous respect for the rules of civic coexistence and for the rights and freedoms of Ceutans." The attention to those who arrived and the protection of the local population appear together in his approach to the response to the crisis.

The King has also expressed his sorrow for those who died "tragically and absurdly" during the July entries. Before the speech, Felipe VI and Letizia visited the Muslim cemetery of Sidi Embarek, where 90 of the victims are buried, and participated in a tribute with representatives of the four confessions that coexist in Ceuta: Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Hindu.

The Kings have traveled accompanied by the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, and have held a meeting with representatives of Ceutan society and the Government of Juan Jesús Vivas. The day also included a visit to the Vicente Aleixandre public school. Felipe VI acknowledged that the trip settles "the long debt" of coming to the city and explained the purpose of his presence. "We have come to see you and listen to you, but above all to give you a hug full of affection and love from all of Spanish society," he stated. This Wednesday, the visit will continue in Melilla.