Moncloa approves 45.3 million more for Ceuta and advances in aid to companies and self-employed workers after the migratory crisis: "The Government has fulfilled its commitment"

The Government has approved this Tuesday an additional 45.3 million euros for Ceuta with the aim of financing the extraordinary expenses of the migratory crisis and maintaining essential public services. The new subsidy arrives on the day of the first visit of Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to the city, while the Executive advances in the payments of aid to companies and self-employed workers and updates its balance of reception, healthcare, and transfers of minors.

The Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration and Government spokesperson, Elma Saiz, maintains that public spaces "have regained normality" thanks to collaboration between administrations. This afternoon, in an interview on 'Malas Lenguas', on TVE, she set the next objective as economic relaunch. "Ceuta was in a moment of prosperity, growing as a city at all levels. For this reason, we are also providing support so that not only normality is regained, but also that relaunch occurs," she explained.

Public services and support for businesses

The Council of Ministers has agreed to the aid through a royal decree-law. The Minister of Finance, Arcadi España, highlighted that the amount has been agreed with the Ceuta Government, after conversations held during his visit last week. The funds will finance current and capital expenses linked to services such as public health, education, environment, social services, security, Civil Protection, emergencies, markets, and funeral services.

The norm also incorporates budgetary flexibility to face the costs of the emergency. Exceptional expenses will have a separate accounting record and Ceuta will be exempt from formulating an economic-financial plan in 2026 or 2027 if these disbursements cause a breach of fiscal rules. "With these agreed measures, financial stability is guaranteed in these months and all expenses can be faced without any difficulty," España assured.

In parallel, aid to the economic fabric approved in September is progressing. The Tax Agency has received 1,909 applications, of which 1,020 are already authorized, and is making payments for an amount of 9.1 million euros. Of the total requests, 1,383 correspond to individuals, mainly self-employed, and 526 to legal entities. Aid ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 euros for self-employed individuals and between 10,000 and 150,000 for companies, depending on their turnover; the application period remains open until November 30.

The subsidy approved today expands the response initiated with the shock plan of September, designed to mobilize 309 million during 2026. That package included economic support and personnel reinforcements in essential services, security, and childcare. The new funding seeks to sustain local services while businesses recover their activity.

The coast and humanitarian aid

Saiz has placed a "turning point" in the recovery of the Trampolín and El Guano beaches, after the coordinated actions of the State Security Forces and Corps, the Army, and the entities involved. The spokesperson has claimed the fulfillment of the commitment made on September 24 to recover the coastal strip during the first half of October. According to her explanation, most of those who remained there have returned to Morocco or have been transferred to temporary humanitarian aid resources.

The State has enabled 7,477 temporary reception places, according to the balance presented this Tuesday. As of October 12, 4,432 adults had completed the triage or initial evaluation process. Saiz also reported 10,161 voluntary returns to Morocco and 525 expulsions.

Child protection continues to require resources and territorial coordination. The balance places the number of minors attended by the autonomous system at 3,019; in addition, there have been 89 reallocations in the Peninsula through family reunification and 173 transfers to autonomous communities. The Minister of Youth and Children, Sira Rego, assured this Tuesday that there are places to continue the referrals and that practically all communities have participated. Spain still awaits a response from Morocco regarding 35 files submitted to study family reunification.

In education, Saiz states that "normality is consolidated" in school attendance. In health, she reported 4,540 people vaccinated and 98 hospital beds occupied, out of the 210 available in Ceuta; 22 of the admitted patients are migrants.

Coordination and relationship with Morocco

The spokesperson defended that the advances respond to more than two months of work and institutional collaboration. In her television interview, she rejected the description of Ceuta as a "pressure cooker" made by the autonomous president, Juan Jesús Vivas, and highlighted the cooperation maintained with him. The Government maintains that it will continue to accompany the city in economic recovery and migration management.

Saiz also responded about the entry of Moroccan ships into Spanish waters at the end of July, revealed by 'El País' and confirmed on Monday by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez. The minister described it as a "specific event" resolved through dialogue with Morocco, although she acknowledged the "extraordinary tension" of those days. Sánchez summarized that management on Monday with a phrase. "Dialogue at the highest level took place and was resolved," he assured. Sources from Zarzuela have confirmed that the King was informed by the Government, without specifying when or who conveyed the episode to him.

The Executive frames the royal visit within the institutional support for the two autonomous cities. Ángel Víctor Torres, Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, accompanies the Kings in Ceuta, where Felipe VI has called for unity and has guaranteed its inhabitants that they will not be alone in the face of the crisis. Saiz has announced that this Wednesday he will accompany the monarchs in Melilla.