ARCHIVED - Ten million to be spent reinforcing border fences in Ceuta and Melilla

The Spanish government will spend millions over the next two years "repairing and maintaining security and defense" 

The Spanish government plans to spend almost €10 million over the next two years reinforcing and maintaining border fences in Ceuta and Melilla three months after nearly 8,000 irregular migrants from Morocco managed to rush the Ceuta entry point.

In unprecedented scenes in Spain, shocking footage of thousands of migrants running through the entry point to Ceuta, which shares a 6.4 km long border with Morocco, went viral.

Immediately, the central government approved €30 million aid to Morocco to try to bolster the effectiveness of police in the fight against illegal immigration.

Now, in light of the seriousness of the migratory crisis, Spain plans to reinforce the security of the facilities at the border perimeters of the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, spending a total of €9,764,601 over the next two years.

The Ministry of Interior has already invested €12 million since 2019 carrying out "important repair and restructuring of the borders", raising the height of perimeter fencing in Cueta by 30 per cent.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, visited both cities after thousands of Moroccans broke through the borders - including 2,000 minors - to learn first-hand about the migratory pressure and pledge support from the Ministry of Interior.

"All Spaniards, anywhere in the country, should know that their security and tranquility will be defended by the Government of Spain at all times and in the face of any challenge with all necessary means," he told Melilla President, Eduardo de Castro.

Relations between Spain and Morocco have been strained for some time, and the diplomatic crisis has escalated over recent months with sovereignty of the Ceuta territory at the centre of the dispute.

IMAGE: Moncloa/Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Defence