Key facts
- King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are visiting Ceuta and Melilla.
- The visit aims to show solidarity with residents amid a migration crisis.
- This is the first royal visit to the cities since 2007.
- The Spanish government approved a 45.3 million euro aid package for Ceuta.
- Approximately 11,686 individuals have returned to Morocco, with 10,161 voluntarily.
- Around 3,000 minors have been identified and are being distributed among autonomous communities.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia began their first visit to Ceuta on Tuesday, a Spanish city in North Africa, to express solidarity with its residents who are dealing with a migration crisis that has strained relations with Morocco. The royal couple is scheduled to visit Melilla, Spain's other North African exclave, on Wednesday. This marks the first royal visit to these cities since Felipe VI's father, Juan Carlos I, toured them in 2007.
The visit occurs amidst ongoing tensions with Morocco and follows a period where approximately 80,000 migrants entered Ceuta. The Spanish government announced on Tuesday the approval of an extraordinary aid package of 45.3 million euros for Ceuta. Of this amount, 40.6 million euros are allocated for current expenses and 4.6 million for extraordinary capital expenses and essential services.
During their visit, the King and Queen met with representatives from various sectors of Ceuta to understand the city's current situation, 75 days after the border breach. They also received the symbolic key to the city. The government reported that as of Monday, 4,432 irregular adult migrants had been processed, and 11,686 individuals had returned to Morocco, with 10,161 returning voluntarily and 525 being expelled. Additionally, 3,000 minors have been identified, and their placement across Spain's autonomous communities is underway.