El Rey, en Ceuta: "Nuestra obligación es defender una parte irrenunciable de España"

King Felipe VI visited Ceuta yesterday to emphasize that the autonomous city is an irrevocable and indisputable part of Spain. Ceuta is Spain and Ceuta is Europe, the King declared during his visit, warning Morocco of the invasion of migrants that occurred this summer, which was a violation of our border by a multitude of people.

The King stressed that the migrant influx was a shock for everyone, especially for the people of Ceuta, but also for Spain as a whole. He assured that no day has passed without thinking of the Ceutans and Melillans. The King emphasized that the authorities of the State and the political forces must be clear and firm, in accordance with our citizens.

He stated that Ceuta and Melilla are an irrevocable part of Spain's political and national reality, with sovereignty and territorial integrity being non-negotiable. The King called for good faith from both Spain and Morocco, warning that their negligence contributed to the migrant influx. He reiterated that those who entered the country irregularly should return to their place of origin as soon as possible.

The King expressed that they should be treated with dignity and humanity while residing in Spain, but must also respect the rules of civic coexistence. He hoped that looking back on these difficult days, they could do so with tranquility and satisfaction for having done things right. The King and Queen wrote in Ceuta's Honor Book that they had settled a long-standing debt with the city's visit, and wished to convey Spain's commitment to the future of the Ceutans, which is the future of Spain.

The President of Ceuta, Juan Jose Vivas, thanked the King for his historic visit, which would help build trust needed to overcome the crisis and illuminate the path forward. Vivas also pointed out that nearly 100,000 people were involved in the border violation and territorial integrity breach this summer. The visit reaffirmed Ceuta's place at the center of national and European political agendas.

The Council of Ministers approved a decree-law providing Ceuta with €45.3 million in financial aid to cover the city's extraordinary expenses resulting from the migrant influx. The Minister of Finance, Arcadi Espasa, detailed the aid distribution to essential services in the city, including environmental measures, social services, public health, education, security, and markets.

The Minister of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, Elma Saiz, reported that 4,432 irregular immigrants had completed the triage process in Ceuta, along with 3,019 minors under the autonomous system. The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, called on EU leaders to continue collaborating with Morocco on migration and security issues, acknowledging the need to learn from the Ceuta crisis and urging the Spanish government to return irregular immigrants to Morocco promptly.