This Saturday, the Government took control of the port of Ceuta for the "humanitarian care" of migrants in tents and other spaces, a decision that is opposed by neighbors and the Port Authority. This measure comes after the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, signed an order this Saturday authorizing the Secretary of State for Migration to temporarily use this space in the Poniente dock area.
According to sources from the Ministry of Transport, the order, signed under article 73.3 of the Law on State Ports and the Merchant Navy, thus authorizes the installation of tents with capacity for more than 1,000 immigrants in an area of 16,000 square meters of public port domain.
The Ministry's decision comes after this Friday the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of Ceuta - controlled by the city of Ceuta - voted against the installation of said tents to locate the migrants.
The purpose of this request was "the temporary installation of the elements necessary for the development of the functions legally attributed to the General Directorate of Humanitarian Assistance and the International Protection Reception System," the order details.
Furthermore, it indicates that "the occupation will materialize through the installation, on a provisional basis, of tents and other spaces intended for rest areas, infirmaries and dispensaries, as well as areas for social care and intervention, health services, offices for the staff of the entity in charge of providing the service and a booth for the security service."
The Board of Directors of the Port Authority of Ceuta agreed not to authorize the application presented "because it is incompatible with the normal exploitation of the port" and submitted the file to State Ports, which has already issued a report.
It concludes that the projected temporary occupation may "increase certain risks associated with the protection of critical infrastructure, sensitive facilities and port operations."
However, it considers that "there are reasons of general interest that justify the granting of the requested authorization, without prejudice to the adoption of the necessary measures to guarantee its compatibility with the safety, protection and normal operation of the port."
Following this report and the analysis of other documentation received, the Ministry of Transport has decided to respond to the aforementioned request from the Secretary of State for Migration.
According to sources from the Ministry of Transport, due to "the exceptional nature of the situation in Ceuta", the department headed by Óscar Puente has taken charge and decided to respond to the aforementioned request from the Secretary of State for Migration, authorizing the use of a part of the port's service area that is already open to the city.
The order concludes that "an appeal for reconsideration may be filed optionally, within a period of one month from the day following the day of its notification" or "a contentious-administrative appeal may be filed directly before the Administrative Litigation Chamber of the National Court, within a period of two months from the day following its notification."
Works in the port area
Thus, after the order was signed, and despite the opposition of the neighbors, the Port Authority and the Confederation of Businessmen, an esplanade on the Poniente Pier in Ceuta has begun to be prepared for the installation of tents.
It is an area of 16,000 square meters of public port domain, with which the Government intends to transport the thousands of people who are camped on Trampolín beach or in the area around Loma Colmenar.
After the beginning of the works, the residents of the neighborhoods of the Junta Obras del Puerto and de Parques de Ceuta have demanded their "immediate cessation" and have asked to respect the decision of the Port Authority.
In a joint statement, the neighborhood groups express their "indignation and deep concern" about the continuity of the actions and recall the agreement adopted by the Port Authority this Friday regarding the denial of the request presented by the Secretary of State for Migration. According to the associations, the decision was approved with 11 votes against, four in favor and no abstentions.
The neighborhood representatives say they do not understand "why the work continues if the Port Authority has voted against authorizing said occupation" and they wonder "how actions can go ahead when the body responsible for that space has officially recorded its refusal."
In recent days, residents of the neighborhoods of the Junta Obras del Puerto as well as Parques de Ceuta had staged several demonstrations against this location, which is also near the Ortega y Gasset public school.
