Defense and Ceuta seal a historic agreement for the urban and social transformation of the city

The agreement provides for the transfer of 140,000 m² of military land for the construction of social housing and the promotion of economic development.

On July 7, the Ministry of Defense signed a key agreement with the Autonomous City of Ceuta that marks a turning point in the urban and social development of the territory. The Minister Margarita Robles and the President of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, have signed the agreement for the free transfer of more than 140,000 square meters of military land, which implies approximately 8.5% of the urban land in the city.

The minister described the agreement as "historic", stressing that "it arises from commitment, because we believe in Ceuta and, believing in Ceuta, we believe in our Armed Forces; one cannot be understood without the other". Juan Jesús Vivas, for his part, stressed that this is "a fundamental step towards meeting one of the most characteristic needs of Ceuta, which is the shortage of land for the development and construction of housing".

The land corresponds to the 'Colonel Físcer', 'Lieutenant Fuentes Pila' and 'Otero' barracks, which will be progressively vacated to concentrate military capabilities in the 'General Pardo de Santayana' base. This restructuring is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The minister assured that this reorganization "will not only not be detrimental to the efficiency of the Army, but will also reinforce its operational capabilities and will open up many possibilities for the city".

The agreement forms part of the commitments established in the Comprehensive Plans for Ceuta and Melilla and reinforces the role of Defense as an active agent in territorial cohesion and social progress.

Source: https://www.defensa.gob.es/gabinete/notasPrensa/2025/07/DGC-250707-firma-convenio-ceuta.html