EU Ministers Declare Ceuta Migratory Crisis Under Control as Spain Announces €25 Million for Unaccompanied Minors
El Salto
- European Union interior ministers declared the migration crisis in Ceuta to be under control, confirming the Schengen zone remains secure.
- The Spanish government allocated an additional €25 million to support unaccompanied minors in the city.
- A National Security department official was dismissed after publishing unauthorized migration figures online.
European Union Coordination
- Interior Minister Grande-Marlaska reported that while 72,000 people crossed into Ceuta on Thursday, 70,000 have already returned.
- Officials reaffirmed that Ceuta maintains a special status within the Schengen agreement, ensuring no movement out of the city without proper documentation.
- The EU Permanent Representatives Committee confirmed no significant movement toward the Spanish mainland or other European nations has occurred.
Protection of Unaccompanied Minors
- Minister of Migration Elma Saiz announced the €25 million emergency fund, appealing to all autonomous communities for cooperation in providing care.
- Minister of Children Sira Rego announced the conversion of two local schools—CEIP Príncipe Felipe and CEIP Reina Sofía—into emergency shelters, prioritizing the needs of unaccompanied girls.
- Prior to the latest influx, 763 minors were already registered in city facilities; current estimates suggest approximately 1,000 additional children arrived on Thursday.
Disciplinary Action Over Data
- The government dismissed a communications official from the National Security department for publishing an unverified figure of 49,000 arrivals.
- The report was removed from the agency's website shortly after publication, with officials clarifying it was not an official government statistic.