MADRID, Spain – The Spanish government has announced an additional allocation of 25 million euros to assist with the care of unaccompanied migrant minors who entered the autonomous city of Ceuta during the recent mass border crossing from Morocco. Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration Minister Elma Saiz revealed the extraordinary funding, a financial commitment that stands in contrast to the pressing demands from Ceuta residents who are calling for increased security and police presence in the wake of the crisis.
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This new financial injection supplements the 5.5 million euros already approved for the enclave during the Sectoral Conference on Childhood and Adolescence held in July. Minister Saiz defended the expenditure as a reflection of the executive branch’s steadfast commitment to the autonomous city and its most vulnerable populations. The funds will be routed from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Youth and Childhood, which will then execute an extraordinary transfer to Ceuta through established administrative mechanisms. Furthermore, the minister urged all of Spain’s autonomous communities, specifically including those governed by the opposition Popular Party, to share the responsibility of accommodating and caring for the underage migrants.
Addressing the lead-up to the border breach, Saiz, who also serves as the government spokesperson, maintained that while the administration had anticipated a seasonal rise in irregular arrivals during the summer, it never received any intelligence reports warning of an event of such unprecedented magnitude. Her comments directly countered recent statements from Moroccan Foreign Ministry officials, who claimed that Rabat had explicitly warned Madrid days in advance about the potential fallout from a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling regarding border pushbacks.
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Despite the diplomatic friction over prior warnings, the Spanish minister praised the ongoing cooperation with Moroccan authorities, asserting that an effective response to the emergency would have been impossible without their collaboration. She also directed attention to the broader European context, noting that Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska is currently presenting Spain’s position at a meeting of European Union interior ministers. Additionally, Saiz highlighted the strong backing the government has received from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who recently commended Madrid’s management of the complex migration crisis.
