Casablanca – Spain’s government approved a €45.3 million ($52.4 million) grant for Ceuta today to cover exceptional expenses linked to the migration crisis that has affected the city since late July.
The Council of Ministers adopted a royal decree-law granting the funds directly to Ceuta’s local government. Spanish Finance Minister Arcadi España said the amount followed discussions and a bilateral agreement between the central government and the city’s authorities.
The funding is divided into two main allocations. Around €40.6 million will cover current expenditure, while another €4.6 million will go toward capital expenses.
The money will help finance emergency measures across several areas under the city’s responsibility, including health care, social services, public health, security, civil protection, education and environmental services. It will also cover expenses related to cemeteries, fairs, markets and street trading.
The Spanish government said the measure aims to help Ceuta maintain essential public services and preserve its financial stability as it deals with the additional costs.
The decree also introduces special accounting rules for expenses linked to the migration emergency. Ceuta will not have to prepare a financial recovery plan in 2026 or 2027 if its budget settlements for 2025 or 2026 breach spending or budget stability rules because of these exceptional costs. The legislation also rules out coercive measures over fiscal deviations caused by the emergency.
The funding announcement comes as King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visit Ceuta today, their first trip to the city as monarchs. They are scheduled to meet local officials, appear in a central square and visit a school before traveling to Melilla on Wednesday.
The visit comes days after King Mohammed VI described Morocco’s migration cooperation model with Spain as outdated in a speech opening Parliament on October 9. He cited legal and judicial obstacles to repatriating migrants and called for a new strategic vision for bilateral ties based on shared development and regional stability.
Read also: King Mohammed VI: Morocco-Spain Migration Model Has Become Outdated
