Melilla Mayor Urges EU Intervention in Spain-Morocco Tensions Over Border Issues

23 February 2021 – byPrince@Bladi · 1 min read

The president of the autonomous city of Melilla, Eduardo de Castro, said in an interview on Sunday radio that relations with Morocco "are tense" due to the latter’s unilateral closure of commercial customs, and the difficulties of entering goods through Malaga and Almería. He called on the central government and the European Union to "ease these tensions".

According to Eduardo de Castro, "Europe must get involved" in this crisis between Spain and Morocco, around Ceuta and Melilla. Specifically, he asks Europe to demand respect for the principle of reciprocity in bilateral relations between the two countries, and to help find lasting solutions to migration issues.

"Tension must decrease and Morocco must behave as we behave," he insisted, recalling the need for Morocco and Spain to maintain good neighborly relations, as they are "linked by economic, social, historical and cultural ties."

The president of Melilla also stressed the damage caused to the local economy due to Morocco’s unilateral closure of the commercial customs in August 2018, after 132 years of activity (post opened in 1886). According to him, the loss of revenue is estimated at around 19 million euros.

Category: Spain

Keywords:

Spain European Union Diplomacy Ceuta Melilla