Canary Islands Excluded from Spain-Morocco Maritime Border Talks, Sparking Controversy

In a response to a written question from the Canarian Coalition deputy in Congress, María Fernández, the government indicated that the last meeting between Spain and Morocco on the delimitation of maritime borders was held on October 11 "without the presence of the government of the Canary Islands". Fernández deplored the fact of keeping the Canarian Executive out of these negotiations which directly concern the islands, demanding transparency in the process.

"We will not allow Sanchez and Mohammed VI to share the waters without the Canary Islands," added the deputy who also denounces "the haste" with which the two countries are trying to conclude an agreement. "What has not been agreed upon for decades cannot be resolved in a few secret meetings and by turning our backs on the Canary Islands," María Fernández argued.

The deputy also deplored the absence of representatives of the Canary Islands in the various bipartite commissions, particularly those related to the delimitation of waters and the management of border control and migration policies. "What is the Spanish government afraid of or hiding to prevent the Canary Islands from participating in the negotiations?" she wonders, warning that the Canary Islands "will not be a bargaining chip for this government or any other."