Spain to allocate 45 million euros to Ceuta for migration crisis costs

The Spanish Government will approve a royal decree-law next Tuesday to allocate 45.3 million euros to the autonomous city of Ceuta. This funding is intended to cover extraordinary expenses in sectors such as cleaning, education, social services, and the environment resulting from the mass arrival of migrants in late July.

Minister of Finance Arcadi España announced the measure following meetings with Ceuta President Juan Vivas and local business representatives. España guaranteed the city’s “financial stability,” stating that the central administration will cover unforeseen costs. Additionally, Ceuta will be excluded from certain economic-financial plans to allow it to exercise its fundamental competencies without interruption.

Regarding economic support for local businesses, 1,700 applications for direct aid have been submitted so far. Approximately 800 of these have already been paid, totaling nearly 5 million euros. The deadline for applications remains open until November 30, offering 5,000 euros for the self-employed and between 10,000 and 150,000 euros for SMEs. The government is also studying a potential second round of aid for small businesses and the self-employed.