EU Lawmaker Challenges Morocco’s Trade Restrictions on Spanish Enclaves

Morocco closed its borders with Ceuta and Melilla in March 2020 due to the health crisis. These borders were reopened on May 17, but only the transit of people is allowed. No goods traffic has yet been recorded at these borders, recalls Ceuta Tv.

Morocco and Spain agreed in the joint declaration of April 7 to reopen the Melilla commercial customs office unilaterally closed by Morocco since August 2018, and to open a new customs office in Ceuta. But the latter should have a "regional" vocation, which would exclude goods from the rest of Spain or Europe, which will have no choice but to transit through the port of Tanger-Med, explain Moroccan sources.

"This is an unacceptable economic suffocation of these two Spanish and European enclaves by Morocco," denounced the MEP who has always criticized this hybrid strategy of Morocco against Spain. According to him, this situation at the borders violates the EU-Morocco association agreement, which is why he demanded the reaction of the European Commission.