Morocco Expands Maritime Borders, Ratifies Laws Ahead of Spanish Foreign Minister’s Visit

These are draft law No. 37.17 amending and supplementing the dahir having the force of law No. 1.73.211 of March 2, 1973, fixing the limit of territorial waters, as well as draft law No. 38.17 amending and supplementing law No. 1.81 establishing an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles off the Moroccan coasts.

The ratification of these two texts was expected on Monday, December 22. But for unexplained reasons, these two projects had been deprogrammed. Some media had attributed the postponement of the ratification to the controversy raised by Spain, which initially opposed the adoption of these two draft laws. But since then, the officials of the two countries have been able to find common ground, even if on the Moroccan side, it has always been repeated that this decision falls within national sovereignty.

Moreover, the government spokesperson, El Hassan Abayba, was very clear in his statements on the issue. He indicated that "Morocco has the full right to take such measures in a legal and sovereign manner to preserve its borders".

According to the daily Al Akhbar, it is clear that the delimitation of Morocco’s maritime borders deeply worries the Spanish authorities, particularly those located in the coastal areas of the south, facing the Canary Islands and on the Mediterranean coast. The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs had announced that it had engaged in a dialogue with Spain on this subject, while indicating that Morocco would not go back on its decision.

The burning issue will certainly be on the agenda of the discussions that Nacer Bourita will have with the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arancha Gonzalez, during the visit she will make next Friday to Rabat.