Spain to declare national security interest in Ceuta as migrant crisis deepens

· Politics ESPMAR
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Spain will declare Ceuta a "situation of interest for national security" on Tuesday and establish a unified command under Territorial Policy Minister Ángel Víctor Torres to coordinate the crisis response, First Deputy Prime Minister Carlos Cuerpo announced Monday, after security forces cleared migrants from a city beach last week.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has convened an extraordinary National Security Council meeting for Tuesday to assess the fallout from the July 30–31 mass crossing, when roughly 72,000 people entered the enclave from Morocco in 24 hours. More than 80 people died in the influx, and about 2,900 identified minors remain in the city.

The European Commission confirmed it received Madrid's formal request for emergency migration funds, which can provide up to 80% pre-financing. Cuerpo also expanded Ceuta's existing socioeconomic development plan, previously worth €180 million, as data showed small-business activity fell up to 30% in the crisis's first days. The government plans to transfer roughly 500 girls to mainland Spain and send up to 25,000 vaccine doses to the enclave.

Story development

  1. Spanish forces clear Ceuta beach again as rights group condemns migrant conditions
  2. Spain plans to transfer 500 migrant minors from Ceuta as police probe suspected rapes
  3. Police probe rapes as Ceuta shelters unaccompanied girls on football pitch
  4. Moroccan forces block new migrant push toward Ceuta as Spain deploys 3,500 officers to enclave
  5. Charity says 4,000 migrant children in Ceuta lack protection as assault cases emerge
  6. Morocco tightens border security as social media calls for new Ceuta mass crossing on 15 August
  7. Spain counts 1,527 migrant minors in Ceuta as Morocco demands their return
  8. Ceuta hospital treats underage girls for suspected rape as migrant crisis overwhelms services
  9. Migrant dies in paraglider attempt as Moroccan rights group raises border death toll to 141
  10. EU says Schengen integrity preserved after Ceuta crisis as commissioner warns of border reliance on neighbours
  11. Spain allocates €25 million for Ceuta minors as youth minister plans visit
  12. Spanish judge opens preliminary probe into mass migrant crossings at Ceuta

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