The European Commission agreed this Wednesday to unlock more than 114 million euros in aid to Spain for the Ceuta crisis and also to guarantee Frontex’s willingness to strengthen its operational support, as requested by Pedro Sánchez’s Government. Brussels’ endorsement comes after weeks of contacts between Madrid and the community capital’s technicians to determine the needs following the massive crossing of migrants at the end of July.
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“From day one, the Commission has firmly supported the Spanish authorities in managing the situation and has offered them its support,” explained the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, in a statement. “Today we announce additional concrete European support to address urgent needs on the ground. Our priority remains clear: those who do not have the right to stay in the area must be repatriated,” he warned.
On August 24, Spain formally requested emergency aid to address the crisis. The Community Executive then asked the Spanish Government for “clarifications” regarding the support requests, but after several contacts, last week Brunner already indicated that they had made significant progress after personally addressing the situation with the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and the Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres.
Brussels indicates that the Commission considered this funding request “a priority” and that they maintained “close and continuous contact with the Spanish authorities at all levels from the beginning.” The funds come from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (82.7 million euros) and the Border Management and Visa Instrument (32 million euros), and will be aimed at supporting measures to strengthen border surveillance, border protection, and security-related infrastructure — such as thermal cameras and observation technology, floating buoy systems, or underwater drones — as well as the deployment of additional personnel and equipment.
They will also be dedicated to establishing facilities for migrant control, as well as supporting the return of those who remain in an irregular situation in Ceuta and strengthening reception capacity in Ceuta, “including unaccompanied minors,” the statement indicates.
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The Commission also agrees that Frontex extend its presence with additional support that “may include the deployment of maritime resources, increased information sharing within the framework of Eurosur, repatriations, including pre- and post-return assistance, as well as supportive cooperation with Morocco,” the Community Executive indicates. Additionally, Europol and the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) have responded positively to the request to continue existing cooperation with the Spanish police authorities — particularly regarding investigations into migrant trafficking networks and strategic analysis — and support for interviews and interpretation.
The green light comes one day after the visit of the president of the autonomous city, Juan Jesús Vivas, to the European Commission, and also when the Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, is in Brussels to meet with several commissioners to Europeanize the crisis. “The 114.7 million aid for Ceuta requested by Spain from the EU is now effective. Ceuta is in our hearts and now also in Europe’s,” Albares celebrated.
“Our message remains clear: we are committed to fighting irregular migration and ensuring the immediate return of those who remain in Ceuta in an irregular situation. With today’s financial support, we back Spain to face this challenge,” defended the Executive Vice-President of the Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen.
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