Andalusian regional president Juanma Moreno received Ceuta president Juan Jesús Vivas at the Palacio de San Telmo in Seville. Moreno described the meeting as another expression of the bond between the two territories and of Andalusia’s support for Ceuta. He said that support includes cooperation on several issues, as well as “support and affection so that the people of Ceuta know they are not alone.” He added: “We will not let go of the hand of the people of Ceuta.”
Moreno said he would continue to draw attention to the situation in Ceuta, which he described as “an invasion, a humanitarian drama and a problem of managing the people who arrived in Ceuta by storming the border.” He also called it chaos that was undermining the city’s peace, economy, daily life and coexistence. Addressing Vivas, he said: “President, you are at home, in the home of all Andalusians and all the people of Ceuta.”
Vivas thanked Andalusians for their involvement in the situation Ceuta had faced for two months. He said the two territories were “sister lands” and shared a sense of closeness. He described the situation as “an invasion with immigration as an instrument” and said that after two months it was unbearable, with a devastating impact on security, public services and the economy. “Ceuta is no longer the Ceuta it was on 30 July,” he said, adding that fundamental rights had been diminished. “Ceuta is wounded, but still standing.”
Moreno said Ceuta now had a distinct place on Andalusia’s institutional and social agenda. He cited the Andalusian Parliament flying Ceuta’s flag on the city’s official day, 2 September. He also said that, as co-president of the European Committee of the Regions, he had brought Ceuta’s crisis to the body, saying that “defending Ceuta is defending Europe.”
The two presidents reviewed initiatives being developed by the Andalusian regional government. These include making the international network of Andalucía Trade available to Ceuta-based businesses and creating a working group to identify projects of interest. Bilateral meetings between Andalusian and Ceuta businesses are also planned, with the first potentially taking place in Campo de Gibraltar.
The regional government will promote a regular maritime link between Ceuta and the port of Málaga and is studying how to apply a 25% discount to ferry fares to Ceuta. Cooperation will also cover universities, culture, sport and innovation. The General Secretariat for Universities has developed an activity plan with Ceuta; an expanded, ongoing cultural programme is planned under the project “Andalusia and Ceuta: Shared Culture, a Bridge Between Shores.” Andalusian sports programmes including Mentor10, Todos Olímpicos and the LED League will also be extended to Ceuta.
On technology, Moreno said the new headquarters of CEUTA IATEB would help connect capabilities in Ceuta with the Artificial Intelligence Centre. He also criticised what he called the central government’s lack of sensitivity and resources in response to the situation.