The Government has requested economic support from the European Union to improve security in Ceuta. The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has advanced in Congress the request for European funds to allocate 35.6 million euros to the autonomous city. The main allocation will go to the extension of the border breakwaters of El Tarajal and Benzú, along with other "extraordinary" structural actions aimed at preventing new massive entries like that of July 30.
During his speech, he highlighted the "effective" cooperation of Morocco and expressed his gratitude for the "exemplary behavior" of the Ceuta population, committing to restore normalcy after several days of social tension. During this period, there have been attempts by some neighbors to obstruct the distribution of food or even to set fire to migrant settlements, which has required police intervention.
"I call for calm and for a cessation of any type of violence because violence is not the way to solve any problem with the complexity and with absolute empathy for the citizens of Ceuta," he stated before the Interior Commission of the Congress of Deputies.
In this appearance, the Interior Minister firmly rejected messages of hate from the far-right --"and also the right"-- which, he said, seek to stir up social confrontation and to target vulnerable groups by labeling them as "invaders" or inciting the "hunting of immigrants." "Responsibility, serenity, and a sense of state are needed," he insisted.
The package of measures includes the implementation of a fixed maritime containment system using anchored buoys and the construction of a new permanent Temporary Foreigners' Care Center (CATE) with a capacity for 800 people. These actions will be co-financed 90% by the EU through the Financial Support Instrument for Border Management and Visa Policy.
Grande-Marlaska also detailed the incorporation of new technological means to reinforce the surveillance and protection of the perimeter, such as light intervention vessels, remote equipment for underwater operations, and an aerial control system with unmanned aircraft.
The minister has recalled that, since 2018, Interior has already allocated 34.4 million euros in Ceuta to improve the security of the border. He also mentioned the second phase of the State Security Infrastructure Plan (2026-2034), which provides for 66.6 million euros to build a new Superior Police Headquarters --23.4 million euros-- and a new Civil Guard Command --43 million euros--.
Extraordinary response and reinforcement of personnel
Grande-Marlaska has argued that it is necessary to draw conclusions from what has happened to restore normality and avoid future "attacks on the territorial integrity of Spain" both in Ceuta and Melilla --in the words of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez--, unlinking these episodes from the usual flows of irregular migration.
He explained that these are exceptional measures with a vocation for permanence, which add to the "extraordinary response" deployed by the Executive since the beginning of the crisis, even before July 30. This response has meant a reinforcement of the National Police and Civil Guard personnel to reach the 1,600 agents present in the autonomous city.
In this context, he has again highlighted the "effective" and "always close" cooperation with Morocco to achieve that, "in just 24 hours," the majority of the 72,000 people who entered the Spanish city returned voluntarily to the neighboring country, a return that, he indicated, continues "at a variable pace."
According to his data, around 5,000 migrants currently remain in Ceuta, of which 1,500 are minors. He added that Moroccan authorities have halted more than 2,700 irregular departures by sea bound for Spanish coasts so far in 2026.
Crisis management and institutional coordination
The head of Interior has described the situation as one of "great complexity" in which all the involved ministries have worked "tirelessly from the very first moment," with a "forceful action and permanent communication" with the Ceuta institutions. All of this, he said, in the face of attempts to misinform and "seek political gain" from the crisis.
"We are talking about an extraordinary situation that has required an extraordinary response," he emphasized, underscoring that this action has been "ordered, coordinated, and fully compliant with the law," with the dual objective of safeguarding human rights and ensuring both the defense of the border and the attention to the citizens of Ceuta.
At this point, he wanted to convey a message of recognition to the neighbors of the North African city for their "exemplary behavior". "In the face of the hate and tension speeches of some, the solidarity, sensitivity, and collaboration of the people of Ceuta demonstrate the best values of our country," he stated.
Increase in Police and Civil Guard resources
Grande-Marlaska specified that the first reinforcement of personnel occurred "immediately after" learning of the Supreme Court ruling, notified on July 8, which prevented the application of the rejection mechanism at the border for those who accessed by swimming. Then, 70 additional civil guards were incorporated, both in the fencing and in maritime control.
This deployment was expanded "hours later" after the massive entry on July 30, already with the participation of the Armed Forces. He pointed out that the staff of the Police and Civil Guard in Ceuta had already increased by 16.3% compared to 2018, and that they now exceed 1,600 personnel, with 300 more police officers and 250 civil guards.
In addition, since July 8, the Civil Guard has seven vessels for maritime surveillance, supported by helicopters, drones, and the installation of the containment system using buoys, along with the provisional CATE of El Tarajal.
"What happened in Ceuta between July 30 and August 1 constitutes one of the greatest recent challenges in border and migration management that our country has faced," the minister stated, who committed to processing "as quickly as possible" the asylum applications, as well as the expulsion or return files of migrants. "This Government and also the Ministry of the Interior has been, is, and will always be in Ceuta," he concluded.