Melilla Businesses Urge Action as Morocco Border Trade Stalls

The president of the Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Melilla (CEME-CEOE), Enrique Alcoba Ruiz, has asked the Spanish government to "separate this issue from other unrelated subjects, such as the situation in Western Sahara", in order to demand that Morocco set up commercial customs and respect the traveler regime.

Enrique Alcoba explained that the government has not provided information on this subject to the presidents of Ceuta and Melilla, Juan Vivas and Juan José Imbroda, stressing that this silence from the authorities is causing general uncertainty. The official also wished to have details on the agreement concluded between Pedro Sanchez and the Moroccan authorities with a view to the resumption of customs after the change of position on the Sahara in April 2022.

The president of the CEME-CEOE also deplored the fact that no date is given for the opening of the customs of Ceuta and Melilla, stressing that the two "Spanish cities deserve respect" and more information on this issue "after six years of waiting". For the record, Morocco unilaterally closed the customs of Melilla on August 1, 2018.

"Entrepreneurs are suffering the negative consequences of this situation," Alcoba also said, calling on the authorities to show "more transparency in the process" of reopening the customs of Melilla and creating the commercial customs of Ceuta, as agreed with Morocco.