Brussels: The European Commission on Wednesday announced pound 114.7 million ($133 million) in emergency assistance to Spain to help manage the situation in Ceuta following large-scale irregular border crossings on July 30-31. The assistance aims to bolster border surveillance and protection measures and provide necessary resources to address the influx of migrants.
According to Anadolu Agency, the funds will be allocated to enhance border security through the deployment of thermal cameras, observation technology, floating buoy systems, and underwater drones, along with additional personnel and equipment. The European Commission emphasized the importance of supporting facilities for migrant screening, the return of individuals residing illegally in Ceuta, and improving reception capacity, including accommodations for unaccompanied minors.
The European Commission has coordinated further operational assistance from the EU's border agency Frontex, law enforcement agency Europol, and the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). Frontex is prepared to extend its existing operational plans in Spain into 2027, ensuring the continued deployment of Frontex Standing Corps officers in Ceuta.
The bloc highlighted that additional Frontex assistance could encompass maritime assets, increased information exchange through Eurosur, support for returns, and collaboration with Morocco. A joint core group comprising representatives from the EU Commission, EU agencies, and relevant Spanish authorities will convene regularly to coordinate the emergency assistance and operational support. The group's first meeting is scheduled for this week, alongside a second technical visit to Ceuta.
The European Commission reiterated that the priority remains the swift return of individuals who remain illegally in Ceuta. Spanish government estimates indicated that tens of thousands of people entered Ceuta from Morocco during the mass crossings on July 30-31. Spanish authorities estimated that several thousand migrants remained in Ceuta after the initial crossings, although precise figures for the number who entered and stayed are still lacking, according to Vivas.