Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares is due to meet his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, in New York this week to discuss the situation in Ceuta and the return of migrants who remain in the Spanish city after the mass entry from Morocco at the end of July.

The meeting will take place on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly's high-level week, although no exact date has yet been fixed.

Meeting Still Being Arranged

Albares announced the planned meeting while speaking to journalists in New York on Monday, September 21.

He said the two ministers were working to coordinate their schedules and had agreed to meet for a calm and direct discussion about the situation in Ceuta.

Albares said he and Bourita speak almost daily, making the planned face-to-face meeting the latest diplomatic contact between Spain and Morocco over the ongoing situation.

Focus on Migrant Returns

One of the main subjects will be the return of migrants who remain in Ceuta following the mass entry of July 30 and 31.

Albares said discussions with Morocco would address the return process and the cooperation required to resolve the situation.

The Spanish Government has repeatedly said that migrants who do not qualify for international protection should be returned in accordance with the applicable legal procedures.

Thousands Remain in Ceuta

The scale of the remaining population has changed considerably since the initial mass entry.

On September 21, Territorial Policy Minister Ángel Víctor Torres said the Spanish Government estimated that between 17,250 and 17,750 people had remained in Ceuta after the July influx.

Torres said around 6,000 had subsequently returned voluntarily to Morocco.

He also said approximately 3,000 to 3,500 people remained in the streets, while about 8,000 were staying in accommodation provided by the Spanish Government or the Ceuta authorities. These figures are government estimates covering different categories of people in the city.

The July Mass Entry

The crisis began with a mass movement of people from Morocco into Ceuta on July 30 and 31.

Estimates of the total number who entered have varied. The Spanish Government has used figures around 70,000 to 80,000, while different authorities and organisations have given different estimates.

The large majority subsequently left the city, while thousands remained and entered the Spanish reception, identification and administrative system.

Spain Says Cooperation With Morocco Continues

Albares said that Morocco has continued to cooperate with Spain in dealing with the situation.

He said the two countries were working together on the return process and that Morocco had indicated its willingness to cooperate.

Spain and Morocco have maintained close diplomatic and security cooperation in recent years, including on migration and border management.

The current discussions are taking place within that broader bilateral relationship.

A New Social-Media Call for September 23

Another issue expected to feature in the discussions is a new call circulating on social media for people to try to enter Ceuta on Wednesday, September 23.

The date coincides with Morocco's legislative elections.

Spanish authorities have said they are aware of the messages and are maintaining contact with Moroccan authorities.

Albares said on September 21 that he had spoken with Bourita about the issue and that the Moroccan side had indicated it would take the necessary measures to prevent another mass entry.

The existence of messages calling for an attempted entry does not establish that another mass movement will actually take place.

Previous August Call Did Not Lead to a Similar Entry

Albares also referred to an earlier social-media call for a mass entry on August 15.

He described that mobilisation as unsuccessful and urged people considering an irregular crossing to rely on accurate information rather than messages circulating online.

Spanish authorities have continued to issue warnings about the risks associated with attempting to enter Ceuta irregularly.

The Situation of Unaccompanied Minors

The return process is more complicated for unaccompanied minors.

Spain has been identifying and interviewing minors who entered Ceuta during the July episode.

On September 16, the Spanish Government said 2,140 minors had been identified, while it estimated that between 700 and 1,000 remained to be identified at that stage.

Authorities have said family reunification in Morocco is the first option where legally possible, but that each case must be assessed individually.

Where reunification is not possible, the Spanish Government has said minors may remain in Ceuta or be relocated elsewhere in Spain under the applicable legal framework.

Returns Have Continued

The number of people returning to Morocco has increased steadily since August.

On September 16, Torres said 5,603 people had voluntarily returned to Morocco since August 10.

The government also reported that administrative processing was advancing for adults whose cases could lead to return where they do not have a right to remain in Spain.

By September 21, Torres was referring to approximately 6,000 voluntary returns, showing that the process had continued.

Accommodation Remains an Issue

The Spanish authorities are also trying to move people away from informal settlements and into designated accommodation.

Torres said on September 21 that around 3,000 to 3,500 people were still living in the streets, mainly around the beaches of El Trampolín and Benítez.

The Government said it was preparing additional accommodation and expected to move those remaining outside formal facilities into shelters over the following weeks.

Ceuta and Spain's Border With Morocco

The situation has also renewed attention on the strategic importance of Ceuta's border.

Albares said in New York that Ceuta and Melilla should have an important role within the European Union and highlighted the importance of European support for the two Spanish cities.

He linked the issue to the wider challenge of managing Europe's external borders and to cooperation between Spain, Morocco and the European Union.

No Date Yet for the Albares-Bourita Meeting

Although the meeting has been agreed in principle, the two ministers have not yet announced a precise date or time.

Their schedules are being coordinated around the UN General Assembly programme in New York.

The main subjects are expected to include the migrants remaining in Ceuta, the return process and the latest concerns surrounding the social-media messages calling for another attempted entry on September 23.

What Happens Next

The immediate focus will be on the diplomatic meeting between Albares and Bourita and on the situation at the Ceuta-Morocco border as September 23 approaches.

Spain says it is continuing the identification and administrative processing of people remaining in Ceuta, while voluntary returns to Morocco are continuing.

The two governments are also maintaining contact over the latest online mobilisation.

For now, the Spanish Government says the priority is to continue the return process for people who do not qualify for international protection, while dealing separately with cases involving asylum applicants and unaccompanied minors under the applicable legal procedures.