The Congress of Deputies has validated this Wednesday the royal decree-law that mobilizes 309 million euros in urgent measures for Ceuta, with the support of the PP and the vote against from Vox. The initiative moves forward with 304 favorable votes, after the popular party maintained the uncertainty about the direction of their vote until the last moment.
The decree had been approved by the Council of Ministers at the beginning of September and was already in force, but it needed to pass the examination of Congress to maintain its validity. The package seeks to respond to the economic and social consequences derived from the massive entry of migrants recorded in Ceuta on the 30th and 31st of July.
The support of the PP allows the Government to push forward one of the main economic packages deployed so far to address the crisis of the autonomous city. Vox, for its part, has maintained the rejection that it had already anticipated before the vote.
309 million for Ceuta and another 50 million in guarantees
The package mobilizes 309 million euros in social, economic, security, and reinforcement measures for public services, to which another 50 million in guarantees are added.
The largest allocation corresponds to the care of minors and humanitarian response, with 118 million euros. Another 90 million are allocated to security measures, while 80 million are directed to the business fabric and employment and 21 million to the reinforcement of essential services.
The decree includes direct aid for self-employed workers and companies affected by the crisis. Self-employed workers will be able to receive 5,000 euros, while companies will have access to amounts between 1,000 and 150,000 euros, depending on their billing.
The Government's forecast is that this aid will reach about 2,500 self-employed workers and 1,500 companies, within a budget of 36.6 million euros.
Employment aid and relief for companies
The validation also maintains the labor measures designed for the activities affected by the crisis.
Among them is the 100% exemption from Social Security contributions for certain ERTE linked to the interruption of activity, in addition to extraordinary protection mechanisms for self-employed workers.
The package also includes measures aimed at commerce and tourism and a line of 50 million euros in guarantees, with the aim of facilitating financing for the business fabric of the city.
Another of the measures included is the increase of certain hiring incentives and tax benefits to promote economic activity in Ceuta.
90 million for security
The Government allocates 90 million euros to strengthen security, one of the main chapters of the decree following the massive influx at the end of July.
The budget includes resources for the National Police, the Civil Guard, and the Armed Forces, in addition to actions linked to the deployment as a consequence of the crisis.
The decree also incorporates funding to strengthen public services under greater pressure, with allocations aimed at healthcare, education, justice, and water supply.