Morocco Leverages Pandemic to Pressure Spanish Enclaves, Reshape Border Economy

"Morocco has used the pandemic to exert increased pressure on Ceuta and Melilla, while at the same time proposing a transitional discourse on reforming the economic sector throughout the North and creating jobs in new logistics centers for people working in the atypical economy," she said in an interview.

The Spanish researcher explains that this is linked to the relocation of European companies, as Morocco is redefining its social and economic strategy in relation to the port of Tanger Med; creating two industrial hubs with giants like Renault. "And the pandemic? Morocco says: "[...] I have a justification to undertake these transformations and for the population not to have the possibility to demonstrate, with a curfew and restrictions on meetings," added Keina Espiñeira, recalling that the border crossings between Ceuta, Melilla and Morocco have been closed since March 2020. This measure, she notes, has wiped out all economic activity dependent on a more or less porous relationship. She cites as examples porterage, domestic work, construction, leisure and tourism, etc.

Reacting to the expulsion of Morocco of Helena Maleno, a researcher and journalist on migration and human rights, Keina Espiñeira indicated that the criminalization of solidarity and the persecution of individuals and organizations that provide support to migrants... is a widespread practice. "The important thing is to understand that this criminalization is marked by the EU. In the reform of the law on foreigners in 2009, it was planned to punish people who give refuge to undocumented persons. And there have been campaigns in social movements denouncing this indictment, such as "Save hospitality," she continued.