Morocco Delays Reopening Border Customs with Spanish Enclaves, Straining Relations

Negotiations between Spain and Morocco with a view to opening commercial customs in Ceuta and Melilla are slow to bear fruit. Since April 2022, when the two countries agreed to reopen the Melilla customs, unilaterally closed by Morocco in August 2018, and to create a customs office in Ceuta, only three pilot tests have been carried out at the borders. According to the timetable established by the two parties, and contained in the "roadmap" of their relations, there are still many constraints to be lifted before the opening of these customs.

Letters exchanged between Moroccan and Spanish customs officials in recent months, to which El País had access, show that the agreed timetable has not been respected, particularly due to Morocco, which plays on the deadlines. While Spain insists on carrying out other pilot tests and moving on to the final phase, Morocco believes that the tests carried out are not "conclusive" and asks to do more "before considering any other operation". The kingdom also asks Spain to strengthen its action in the fight against smuggling.

But the installation of customs in Ceuta and Melilla, which should lead to the normalization of the goods traffic, would mean the tacit recognition by Morocco of the sovereignty of Spain over the two autonomous cities that it continues to claim and that it has recently described as "Moroccan cities". With the early elections on July 23, new uncertainties hang over the continuation of the negotiations for the opening of these customs.