Commission grants Spain €114.7 million and provides enhanced operational assistance to manage the situation in Ceuta

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Today, the Commission has decided to provide Spain with €114.7 million in emergency assistance to help manage the situation in Ceuta, following the large-scale illegal border crossings on 30-31 July. This financial support builds on the Commission’s immediate response from the first day, when it offered Spain both financial and operational assistance. The decision further demonstrates the Commission’s full solidarity with Spain in addressing the challenging situation.

The Commission has also coordinated and facilitated the mobilisation of support from the EU agencies. Frontex, Europol and the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) have responded positively to Spain’s request for operational support, further strengthening the assistance available to the Spanish authorities to manage the situation on the ground.

Today’s decision on emergency funding follows the request submitted by Spain on 24 August, which the Commission treated as a priority, being in close and continuous contact with the Spanish authorities at all levels from the start. The funding comes from the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund (€82.7 million) and the Border Management and Visa Instrument (€32 million). It will support measures to enhance border surveillance, border protection and security-related infrastructure (e.g. thermal cameras and observation technology, floating buoy systems, underwater drones), as well as the deployment of additional staff and equipment. It will also serve to set up facilities for the screening of migrants, as well as to support returns of those who remain illegally in Ceuta. It will also support reception capacity in Ceuta, including for unaccompanied minors.  

In addition, the Commission is today replying to the Spanish authorities in relation to Spain’s request from 28 August related to additional support from the EU agencies.

Frontex is ready to extend all existing operational plans of the Joint Operations in Spain in 2027. The extension of the current Joint Operation Minerva has already been agreed and will ensure the continued deployment of Frontex’s Standing Corps officers in Ceuta. Further Frontex support can include the deployment of maritime assets, increased information exchange in the framework of Eurosur, returns, including pre-return and post-return assistance, as well as support cooperation with Morocco.

Europol has confirmed it will continue the existing cooperation with the Spanish law enforcement authorities, in particular in relation to investigations into migrant smuggling networks and strategic analysis.

The EUAA also responded positively regarding support for interviews and interpretation.

Next steps

The European Commission and the Agencies will continue to liaise closely to ensure the coordination of our efforts with those of the Spanish authorities in addressing the urgent needs in Ceuta. The priority remains to ensure the swift return of all those who remain illegally. For this purpose, the Commission agreed with the Spanish authorities to establish a joint core group comprised of representatives of the Commission, the Agencies and the relevant Spanish contact points. This group will meet regularly, including in the context of the disbursement of the emergency assistance so as to ensure the necessary coordination and continuous support. The first meeting of the core group will take place this week. A second technical visit to Ceuta is also planned to take place this week.

Once the funding grant agreement is signed, the Commission has 30 days to pay up to 80% of the granted amount. In practice, up to 80% of the approved emergency funding will be made available shortly after the grant agreement is signed. The emergency assistance funding can finance eligible actions retroactively – pre-financing, starting from the day the emergency situation began.

While the Commission will continue to maintain the overall coordination, the additional operational support from the EU Agencies and its exact modalities will be agreed between the EU agencies and the relevant Spanish authorities.