The Government accelerates the exit from the crisis in Ceuta with 3,400 people housed, 3,519 voluntary returns and reinforcements on all fronts

The Government has put this Tuesday figures, deadlines and new resources to the next phase of its response to the Ceuta crisis. The Council of Ministers has approved a royal decree-law endowed with 309 million euros for the remainder of the year, to which will be added a line of guarantees of up to 50 million, while the single command has reported on the progress made on the ground.

The Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, has confirmed that 3,400 people have already been transferred to reception resources. The immediate objective is to increase capacity to 6,000 places and offer accommodation to those who remain on the street, an essential step to complete affiliation, study each file and expedite returns.

The First Vice President and Minister of Economy, Trade and Business, Carlos Cuerpo, has presented the package as a "shock response" agreed with the Autonomous City, social agents and business organizations. Its volume is equivalent to about 16% of Ceuta's gross domestic product and is distributed among reception, security, public services and economic recovery.

More places, returns and reinforcements to recover normality

The new device incorporates plots located in the port, land of the Ministry of Housing and a barracks. At the same time, the Government has removed from the planning several sports centers, the old flour factory and the military hospital, spaces that had caused neighborhood protests and that the Ceuta Executive had asked to discard.

Torres has quantified 3,519 voluntary returns made between August 10 and 31 and 214 expulsions executed. The process requires identifying each person, checking if they request international protection and individually resolving their situation. The asylum office has received new staff and offices have been prepared to conduct interviews more quickly.

The Government has also counted 1,612 identified minors, of whom 1,129 arrived during July 30 and 31. Humanitarian reception and care for minors will receive up to 118 million euros from the Government, with more than 53 million destined for accommodation and basic care and more than 63 million to reinforce the protection of children and adolescents.

The security chapter amounts to 90 million euros. It includes 7.1 million for extraordinary bonuses for the National Police, eight million for the Civil Guard, and another 74 million to cover the deployment of the Armed Forces, transport, logistics, and maintenance of the mobilized assets.

In addition, 4.5 million are allocated to reinforce the Administration of Justice, with two more judges and an increase from three to 18 public defenders. The 21 million reserved for essential services will allow for the incorporation of a hundred healthcare professionals, reinforce security and psychological care in educational centers, and improve basic infrastructures such as the desalination plant.

Aid from September and response to the political challenge

The economic leg of the decree includes 80 million for companies, self-employed individuals, and workers. The Tax Agency will manage a fund of 36.6 million aimed at some 2,500 self-employed workers and 1,500 companies. Self-employed individuals can receive 5,000 euros, and companies will access amounts between 10,000 and 150,000 euros, depending on their turnover volume.

Applications can be submitted starting September 14, and the Ministry of Economy expects to begin payments in early October. Another 14 million will be used to finance consumption vouchers, transport discounts, and measures aimed at recovering trade and tourism. Also, 50 million in guarantees from the Official Credit Institute (ICO), training programs, and foreign promotion plans will be activated.

The decree also reinforces temporary employment regulation files, creates an extraordinary benefit for cessation of activity for the self-employed, and makes several tax advantages permanent. The corporate tax bonus will increase from 50% to 60%, and the employer's Social Security contribution will have a 75% reduction, measures that will also apply to Melilla. The Government estimates that these incentives will mobilize close to 500 million over the next five years.

Cuerpo explained that card spending fell by about 60% during the first days of the crisis. Activity has generally recovered, although there are still significant differences between neighborhoods and sectors, and some businesses remain closed. The approved aid exceeds the estimated losses made by the Ceuta Chamber of Commerce.

The press conference also addressed the future visit of Felipe VI to Ceuta and Melilla. The Government spokesperson and Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, has denied that Pedro Sánchez reproached the monarch for his absence and has defended that he merely "stated a reality." The visit still lacks a date, although the Executive maintains that it will take place and assures that relations with the Royal Household are "good" and "fluid".

Torres has shown his respect for the concentrations called this Wednesday in support of Ceuta and has asked that they proceed peacefully, "with flowers in hand." Saiz has accused the PP of instrumentalizing the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, while the single command has stated that it will remain apart from political confrontation to concentrate on the recovery of normality.

The spokesperson has also assured that internal reports from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have detected the amplification of the crisis from digital forums linked to Russia and Israel. The European Commission had already warned of the activity of Russian channels starting on July 30. Moncloa maintains that it has no indications of direct Moroccan involvement and is working with Brussels to close accounts dedicated to spreading disinformation.

Torres and Saiz are traveling this Tuesday to Ceuta to supervise the new accommodations, coordinate administrative reinforcements, and advance in the expansion of places to reach the 6,000 planned.