El Gobierno anuncia un plan de choque para la crisis de Ceuta: mando único y ayudas para las empresas

The Spanish government has announced an emergency plan to address the crisis in Ceuta, following three weeks of mass irregular immigration from Morocco and a rapidly escalating social and economic crisis. President Pedro Sánchez convened an extraordinary Council of National Security, and First Vice President Carlos Cuerpo announced the creation of a single command and assistance for businesses.

This comes after repeated calls for assistance from the autonomous city government and heightened political pressure. The government aims to take control of the situation amid widespread protests.

At a press conference, the Minister of Economy, Commerce, and Enterprise revealed a package of emergency measures to tackle the crisis in Ceuta. The plan comes in response to the unprecedented influx of migrants over the past few weeks and the severe impact on local businesses. The government expects to provide an extraordinary extension of the Socioeconomic Development Plan, which was launched in 2022 and has already injected €180 million into the region.

The economic impact of the crisis has been severe, with businesses reporting a 30% drop in activity in the first days. The government will monitor this economic impact closely, using metrics such as energy consumption in local shops and credit card expenditures. The First Vice President indicated that direct assistance may be provided to SMEs and self-employed individuals, as many have been unable to open their doors.

Ceuta, a border territory, is experiencing a highly asymmetrical situation, with economic activity varying greatly by neighborhood. The government stresses that the aim is to implement these emergency measures as quickly as possible, with the goal of presenting and approving them as soon as possible.