The opening of the commercial customs of Ceuta and Melilla, the delimitation of territorial waters or the control of the airspace of the Sahara are among the major points of friction between Spain and Morocco that will certainly be the subject of discussions during the High-Level Meeting scheduled in Rabat on February 1 and 2 .
The Spanish government has opened more lanes at the Melilla border with Morocco to improve the fluidity of pedestrian and vehicle traffic, after monstrous traffic jams recorded on both sides of the border during the Christmas holidays.
The Spanish Navy patrol boat Atalaya (P-74) is starting a surveillance and security mission in the waters of the strait, near Morocco. The objective is to ensure that "international regulations are respected" in this maritime area that is the subject of claims by Morocco.
The Spanish Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, reaffirmed her country’s position regarding the city of Melilla , stating during a visit on Wednesday that this territory belongs to Spain.
Eduardo de Castro, president of the enclave of Melilla, calls on the Spanish government to negotiate with Morocco a full return to normal at the border crossing level.
Births have fallen by a third in Melilla since the closure in March 2020 of the border with Morocco due to the Covid-19 health crisis, and then the requirement of a visa for Moroccan travelers after the reopening of the border in May.
The Spanish Civil Guard has arrested six people in Melilla suspected of having links with an organization specializing in irregular immigration based in Nador .
In the fever of celebrating Morocco’s qualification , Moroccan goalkeeper Munir El Kajoui made statements that are at the heart of a controversy in Spain.
The round of 16 match between Spain and Morocco at the World Cup will be experienced in a special way in Ceuta and Melilla, where many Moroccans live.
A migrant has eluded the vigilance of the police by flying over the barrier separating Melilla from Morocco by paraglider. All attempts to locate him have been in vain.
Faced with the persistence of Morocco’s claims on Ceuta and Melilla, Spain has decided to strengthen its presence in the waters of the two autonomous cities.
Morocco continues to claim Spanish territories. In addition to Ceuta and Melilla, Rabat is now focusing on Spanish jurisdictional waters, including the Chafarinas Islands, Alborán and Perejil (Leila Islet), as well as the rocks of Al Hoceima and Vélez de la Gomera.