Spain backed a €26 million increase in European Union funding for its southern neighborhood, including Morocco, during negotiations over the bloc’s 2027 budget, despite calls for more money to strengthen border security in Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands.
The agreement raises the Southern Neighbourhood budget to about €1.81 billion, with funding shared among Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia and Palestine. However, the allocation remains about €54 million below its 2026 level.
Spain’s representative to the EU, Marcos Alonso, identified the Southern Neighbourhood fund, Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe as the three programs Madrid was willing to support increasing to reach an agreement with the European Parliament.
The position drew criticism from Ceuta President Juan Jesus Vivas, who accused the Spanish government and the Socialist Party of prioritizing relations with Morocco over the security of the Spanish enclave.
“The government and the Socialist Party continue to show more interest in pleasing Morocco than protecting our territorial integrity,” Vivas said.
The European People’s Party (EPP), meanwhile, said it secured additional EU funding for border management and security, including specific references to Ceuta.
The agreement adds €25 million to the EU’s Border Management and Visa Instrument, bringing its budget to €1.837 billion. The EPP said the final text explicitly mentions Ceuta to help ensure the Spanish city receives part of the funding.
The deal also includes an additional €20 million for the Internal Security Fund and military mobility, as well as 10 new positions for Frontex, the EU’s border agency.
EPP lawmaker Isabel Benjumea, who led the party’s negotiations, criticized Madrid for supporting increased aid to Morocco without securing stronger conditions on cooperation against irregular migration.
The EPP had proposed keeping €50 million from the Southern Neighbourhood fund in reserve until beneficiary countries demonstrated cooperation on border management and efforts to combat irregular migration.
The EU Council rejected the proposal during the final negotiations, removing the proposed financial condition from the agreement.
Benjumea said that Spain could have supported both increased regional funding and stronger border security measures but chose to prioritize the former.
The additional €26 million partly reverses a planned reduction in the Southern Neighbourhood budget. The European Commission had initially proposed €1.784 billion for 2027, while the final agreement raises the amount to about €1.81 billion.
The deal also increases funding for other EU programs, including €52 million for competitiveness, €13.5 million for civil protection and emergency response, and €14 million for Erasmus+.
The agreement still requires formal approval from the EU Council and Parliament.
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