The Spanish government intends to put forward a Real Decreto-Ley worth €40.3 million for Ceuta in the Council of Ministers next Tuesday. The Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, announced this after a meeting of the Comité de Situación in Ceuta. The funds are intended to cover extraordinary expenditure incurred by the city, particularly on security measures and cleaning work.
Torres justified the move by pointing to the ongoing situation on the ground. Since 10 August, more than 8,200 people have been returned to Morocco according to him. At the same time, a considerable number of adults and minors are staying in state-organised accommodation in Ceuta. The government has activated twelve additional reception and support sites; another site recently opened is intended as the “last” reserve facility.
The planned allocation of funds follows aid already approved in September. On 1 September, the Council of Ministers adopted a Real Decreto-Ley with an aid package of 309 million euros to strengthen services, security and accommodation. Parts of these measures, together with the declaration in August of a situation “of interest for national security”, made it possible to mobilise state resources rapidly and simplify procedures. The additional decree now announced is intended to further define the financial framework and cover operational costs, such as additional security staff, equipment and cleaning and waste-disposal work required for organisational reasons. Publication in the official gazette BOE would be a prerequisite for it to enter into force.
Torres’ announcement marks the immediate occasion; the steps approved in recent weeks provide the background. The minister gave no specific details on how the €40.3 million would be allocated or broken down. Such information is usually provided with the government decision or shortly afterwards in the BOE. The decree must then be confirmed by Parliament; amendments are possible during the parliamentary process.
Representatives of the city of Ceuta had repeatedly highlighted rising expenditure on public order, cleaning and accommodation. According to the central government, the new package is intended to ease this burden and stabilise measures already under way. Whether it can provide additional short-term relief for the city budget depends on the precise design of the allocations and how soon they can be drawn down.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).