On 1 September 2026, the Spanish government used Real Decreto 706/2026 to amend the regulation issued on 25 August concerning the “situación de interés para la seguridad nacional” in Ciudad de Ceuta . The decree, published in the Boletín Oficial del Estado on 2 September, replaces Annexes I and II of the Real Decreto 681/2026 and expands and clarifies the list of state resources and infrastructure to be prioritised in the city.
Specifically, the revised text names additional plots in the port area and military properties. Locations identified as priorities for use include “parcelas de la ampliación de poniente fase I del Puerto de Ceuta” and “Acuartelamiento K8”. Sites belonging to the Ministry of Defence in Loma Margarita and Loma Colmenar and former sports facilities also remain on the list, although their inclusion has been editorially amended. The list is intended to make suitable spaces available at short notice for temporary accommodation and logistical support.
The government cites the irregular border crossings on 30 and 31 July 2026 as justification, saying they placed an exceptional burden on the authorities in Ceuta and national services in relation to border protection, identification, humanitarian assistance and municipal services. With the amendment, Madrid aims to secure operational flexibility, maintain accommodation standards and limit disruption to public life in Ceuta. The text stresses that the suitability of the sites must be continually assessed and minimum requirements for provision and protection observed.
The decree provides a basis for coordinating personnel and material resources across several ministries, including the Interior, Defence, Transport, Social Policy and Territorial Administration. It clarifies that the list of measures may be amended before the declared situation ends, provided the Consejo de Seguridad Nacional reports on the matter. The document contains no specific timetables, capacity figures or decisions on returns; operational decisions remain with the central government, in coordination with the city of Ceuta.
In effect, Real Decreto 706/2026 regulates only the scope and preferred use of certain state resources. The text makes no political assessments, financial commitments or wider provisions. The decree contains no information on additional aid, the number of newly created places or the extent of administrative procedures; these would require separate announcements by the relevant authorities.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).