Spain has formally asked the European Commission to unlock emergency funding aimed at addressing the migration crisis in Ceuta, the Commission’s spokesperson for Home Affairs Markus Lammert said. Lammert said that while there is no fixed deadline for a decision on Spain's formal emergency funding request, the Commission is treating the assessment as a top priority to ensure a swift response, according to Bloomberg. The spokesperson noted that the request includes measures to strengthen border protection and related infrastructure, as well as to ensure sufficient reception capacity for migrants, including unaccompanied minors. “We have now, namely yesterday, received a formal request for emergency funding, and we are now working on assessing their request as a priority and with a view to taking a swift decision,” the spokesman told a daily news briefing in Brussels. Last month, tens of thousands of illegal migrants crossed the border of the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in northern Morocco in an attempt to illegally migrate to Spain. Lammert added that the Commission had maintained close contact with Spanish authorities since the beginning of the crisis and would now assess Spain’s needs before determining the amount of funding it could provide. The Spanish funding request is part of the Emergency Assistance (EMAS) under the European Union's Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (FAMI). The system grants high pre-financing rates—frequently up to 80% of the EU contribution—allowing member states or beneficiary authorities to deploy liquidity quickly before final project costs are audited and settled. When the migration crisis broke out, Brussels had indicated that Spain could draw on the EU’s FAMI fund to help cover reception and assistance costs. However, access to the emergency resources required a formal request from the Spanish government. With Madrid’s request now officially submitted on August 24, the Commission will assess the situation and determine the level of assistance that can be released. The Spanish Minister of Migration, Elma Saiz, explained on August 18 that she had already submitted the request for these funds, although at that time the Commission pointed out that until then only “informal contacts” had taken place and that, once there was a “formal request,” priority would be given to analyzing the financial needs of Ceuta “to be able to be very quick” and transfer the money to Spain as soon as possible.
