Spain’s King Felipe VI began his first visit as monarch to Ceuta on Tuesday, less than three months after the July migration crisis sharply raised tensions around the North African city.
The visit comes as Spain and the European Union continue rolling out measures adopted after northern Morocco into Ceuta over two days in July.
Madrid has mobilized €309 million for Ceuta this year, covering security, public services, migrant reception and economic support, while the European Commission has separately approved €114.7 million in emergency assistance for Spain.
Hespress English is following the main developments.
13:00 | Ceuta president says border control, economy must not depend on ‘a third party’
Juan Jesús Vivas, president of the occupied city of Ceuta, delivered his first official speech before King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia during a reception at the Assembly Palace.
He called for the return to Morocco of all those who arrived in the city “en masse and illegally” during the late July migration crisis and who remain there, describing it as the only way to “restore normality.”
Vivas also urged measures to ensure Ceuta’s border control and economic model don’t depend on what he called “a third party,” arguing that Spain’s sovereign decisions concerning Ceuta and Melilla “must not be influenced by any third party.”
11:20 | Spanish palace says Felipe VI was informed of Moroccan naval movements during July crisis
Spain’s government informed King Felipe VI that Moroccan naval vessels had entered waters claimed by Spain off Ceuta during the July migration crisis, Zarzuela sources said Tuesday as the monarch began his visit.
The disclosure followed Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s confirmation a day earlier that Moroccan vessels had entered the area during the July 30–31 crossings.
Spanish authorities have described the incidents as limited and said communication between the two countries’ naval forces prevented further escalation.
11:03 | Von der Leyen says Morocco committed to readmit migrants remaining in Ceuta
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday that Morocco had committed to readmit migrants who remain in Ceuta following July’s mass crossings, as Brussels pledged continued support for Spain in accelerating returns.
In a letter to EU leaders ahead of this week’s European Council summit, von der Leyen said the July events showed how quickly pressure can build at the European Union’s external borders and called for stronger emergency mechanisms to deal with sudden large-scale arrivals.
She said the Commission would continue supporting Spain on returns, strengthen Frontex, and work on rules allowing greater flexibility in asylum and border procedures during exceptional crises.
Her letter came as EU European affairs ministers met in Luxembourg to prepare the Oct. 15–16 European Council summit, where migration and crisis management at the bloc’s external borders are due to feature prominently.
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