Melilla Business Leaders Urge Reopening of Morocco Border Customs for Trade

"We do not understand why Morocco has not already lifted the ban on importing and exporting goods through the land customs of Beni Ensar, since this has nothing to do with the pandemic or with Schengen and it is one of the 16 points agreed between the two governments," in the joint declaration signed on April 7 during the visit of Pedro Sanchez to King Mohammed VI, declared the president of the organization, Enrique Alcoba Ruiz, to Europa Press.

To read: Melilla Businesses Seek Clarity on Border Reopening Protocols with Morocco

For this reason, the businessmen of Melilla are asking the government of Pedro Sanchez to prohibit the entry of goods exported from Morocco until the decision to close the commercial customs has been repealed. The bosses of the autonomous city are also asking for details on the types of goods authorized for import and export that must be cleared through customs.

"Without this, the retail trade in Melilla will not benefit at all from the reopening," they warned, calling on the authorities to maintain "constant and detailed" communication on the progress of the border reopening process.