The president of Ceuta has called on the European Union for urgent assistance to remove remaining migrants from the Spanish exclave and to strengthen border controls following a significant surge in illegal entries last summer. Juan Jesús Vivas, speaking in Brussels on Wednesday, described Ceuta as a “pressure cooker” on the verge of crisis and urged the EU to grant a “special status” to both Ceuta and Melilla, the two Spanish territories located on the North African coast.

In late July, over 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta in one of the most substantial illegal migration events recorded in the European Union in recent years. The influx left between 5,000 and 10,000 migrants still in Ceuta, a city with a population of approximately 83,000. Vivas emphasized the need for increased funding to enhance border infrastructure and address the humanitarian challenges, particularly those involving unaccompanied minors.

The incident also reignited debate across Europe about migration policy. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, a member of the Socialist Party, announced on Monday that migrants unable to claim asylum would be returned to Morocco. Meanwhile, the European Commission stated that it is prioritizing the assessment of Spain’s emergency assistance request and considering additional support from agencies such as the border control agency Frontex, Europol, and the European Asylum Support Office.

Vivas, affiliated with Spain’s opposition People’s Party, proposed that Ceuta and Melilla receive a status similar to the EU’s “outermost regions,” such as the Canary Islands and the Azores, which benefit from dedicated financial programs and support mechanisms. He also suggested their inclusion in the EU customs union to facilitate the free movement of goods. “We are clear that we need a specific status that covers state aid, for example,” Vivas stated, urging Brussels to acknowledge the “extreme uniqueness” of the city’s situation.

Ceuta and Melilla operate under a unique Schengen border regime, including checks on entry from Morocco and departure toward mainland Spain. Vivas criticized Morocco for permitting the migrant flows, accusing the country of deliberately seeking to overwhelm Ceuta. However, the Spanish government has dismissed allegations of Moroccan involvement, and the European Commission has reaffirmed Morocco’s role as an important partner in migration management. Rabat has rejected claims that it played a part in facilitating the migration surge.