Frontex Offers Spain Support for Moroccan Expat Border Crossings Amid Health Concerns

"Frontex maintains a close relationship with Morocco, which takes the covid-19 health crisis very seriously... We will make sure that we can operate in a safe environment," Leggeri said.

He also indicated that bilateral agreements exist between Morocco and Spain, and this framework allows for exchanges on "the issue of the health crisis and health issues in general".

In the Minerva operation, Frontex’s role, he stressed, "will be to help Spain verify passports and carry out border controls for legal travelers using ferries departing from Morocco to Spain or vice versa".

"Travel documents, including the Schengen visa, will be checked. We can also carry out security checks, access the Schengen Information System (SIS) database, if Spain authorizes us to do so," he added.

The planning and collaboration of EU agencies, Frontex and Rescue to the Member Member, which bear the bulk of the burden of travelers, during the crossing of the strait, seem necessary, since this year, the operation pays particular attention to the needs of the many people on summer vacation, who must comply with social distancing measures under the expected high temperatures.