Morocco to reopen commerce with Spanish enclaves
Morocco’s ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, said the kingdom will soon relaunch commercial customs with Ceuta and Melilla, two Spanish enclaves on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast, according to The Arab Weekly and agencies on April 21st. A “roadmap” to Rabat-Madrid cooperation that was established in 2022, after Spain expressed support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara, with the kingdom becoming a crucial European partner in counter-terrorism and migration control.
The move to reengage with the Spanish enclaves follows a diplomatic crisis between Rabat and Madrid over the smuggling of illegal goods.
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Morocco suspended customs with the Spanish enclaves in 2018, to crack down on the smuggling of illegal products across the border but led to diplomatic friction between the countries. Moroccan customs officials previously estimated the value of products entering via Ceuta at between $587 million and $779 million per year.
Benyaich said the new understandings place clear responsibility on both countries to avoid such situations and stressed Rabat’s commitment to the reopening of customs, one of the approved provisions in the 2022 roadmap.
Technical problems have been cited for delays in reopening the crossings from Morocco into both Ceuta and Melilla, but the kingdom has indicated that these issues could soon be resolved. Benyaich, however, did not give clear dates for their reopening.
Diplomatic sources told The Arab Weekly that the committee tasked with investigating obstacles to crossings’ reopening is working effectively, with the improved Moroccan-Spanish bilateral coordination. In recent months, tests have been carried out with the passage of hygiene products or oils for industrial use.
Despite historical tensions Rabat and Madrid share extensive diplomatic, commercial, and military ties, with Morocco becoming a key partner in North African counter-terrorism and migration control efforts.
READ: France acknowledges Morocco’s counter-terrorism efforts
On March 19th, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares remarked on the countries’ strengthening ties in a recent speech to the Spanish senate, stressing the importance of maintaining Spanish-Moroccan relations, as a top foreign policy priority.
The Arab Weekly / AP / Agencies
