Urgent social and economic support plan for Ceuta validated

The Congress of Deputies validated Royal Decree-Law 22/2026, of September 1, approving urgent social and economic support measures for the city of Ceuta, according to the resolution published in the Official State Gazette no. 231, of September 18, 2026 (BOE-A-2026-19420). The agreement was adopted in the session of September 16, under article 86.2 of the Constitution, and is signed by the President of the Congress, Francina Armengol Socias.

The regulation was approved by the Council of Ministers on September 1, 2026, and published in the Official State Gazette no. 216, of September 2, 2026 (BOE-A-2026-18429), entering into force the following day. It responds to the irregular entry of migrants into the city on July 30 and 31, 2026, and the declaration of a situation of national security interest agreed upon through Royal Decree 681/2026, of August 25, and the Declaration of Resources of Royal Decree 705/2026, of August 26. The text is structured into three chapters, 40 articles, one additional provision, one transitional provision, and three final provisions.

Direct aid to companies and freelancers

Chapter I establishes a system of direct aid for the 2026 fiscal year intended for those who had a tax domicile, operating establishment, or assets linked to their activity in Ceuta between July 30, 2026, and the entry into force of the regulation:

• Self-employed natural persons: a single payment of 5,000 euros.
• Companies and entities: 10,000 euros if their turnover does not exceed 1 million; 20,000 between 1 and 2 million; 40,000 between 2 and 6 million; 80,000 between 6 and 10 million; and 150,000 euros above 10 million.
• The application is submitted through the electronic office of the State Tax Administration Agency until November 30, 2026, and payment by transfer is made starting from October 6, 2026.
• The aid is exempt from Personal Income Tax and Corporate Tax, is non-seizable, and is financed by an extraordinary credit of 36.6 million euros in the Ministry of Finance.

Trade, tourism, and liquidity

To support retail trade, hospitality, and tourism, the royal decree-law grants 14 million euros to the Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services, and Navigation of Ceuta: 10 million for voucher programs and commercial revitalization, and 4 million for hospitality and tourism. Additionally, 1,000,000 euros are allocated to the Ceuta Export Plan, executed by ICEX Spain Export and Investment during the following six months.

Regarding financing, a guarantee line from the Official Credit Institute (Instituto de Crédito Oficial) on behalf of the State for up to 50 million euros has been approved, covering operations formalized until December 31, 2026, as well as a contribution of 2 million euros to the Technical Provisions Fund to implement the mutual guarantee system in the city, which is expected to be operational by early 2027.

Public services, employment, and Social Security

Chapter II reinforces the reception system and essential services:

• 62,958,000 euros to the Ministry of Youth and Childhood for the care of unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents, a group for which the Ceuta protection system handles approximately 1,500 cases.
• 3,500,000 euros to the National Institute of Health Management (INGESA) for extraordinary health expenses in primary and hospital care.
• Direct grants to Save the Children and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
• 2 million euros to the city of Ceuta for the desalination plant and 4.25 million annually to the Ceuta Port Authority between 2027 and 2031.

Chapter III regulates the temporary employment regulation files (ERTE) due to force majeure linked to the events since July 30, 2026: with no waiting period, no consumption of contributions, and a benefit of 70 percent of the regulatory base, in addition to an exemption from the employer’s contribution. Contribution bonuses are increased up to 75 percent, an extraordinary benefit for cessation of activity of up to four months is created, and an extraordinary deferral of Social Security quotas is enabled.

The validation closes the parliamentary process of the decree-law and provides legal certainty to a package that directly affects the liquidity of Ceuta’s SMEs and freelancers, the maintenance of employment, and the financing of health, education, justice, and child protection in the autonomous city.

Source: Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado), no. 231, of September 18, 2026, Sec. I. General Provisions, p. 123453 (official reference: BOE-A-2026-19420).