Morocco May Bypass Spanish Enclaves for Summer Diaspora Return Operation

The authorities of Ceuta and Melilla fear that the two cities will be excluded by Morocco from the organization of the Marhaba 2021 operation, reports El Confidencial Digital.

In recent months, Ryanair and Air Arabia Maroc have increased their connections between Spain and Morocco, no doubt aware of the strong demand from travelers to be exploited as part of the Transit Operation. The Irish low-cost airline is launching flights this summer from Malaga to Fez and Rabat. For its part, Air Arabia Maroc will operate new routes from Bilbao, Valencia, Malaga and Barcelona to various Moroccan destinations.

On the Spanish side, the government of Pedro Sánchez could demand conditions for the return of MREs at the end of their summer vacation, in order to force the Moroccan authorities to organize the Transit Operation via Ceuta and Melilla.

In 2019, the Marhaba Operation allowed 760,000 vehicles to cross the Strait of Gibraltar, including 300,000 via the city of Ceuta. Thanks to this operation, more than 1.2 million euros in taxes were collected just at the port of Ceuta. If the Marhaba Operation 2021 excludes Ceuta, this would affect the companies operating in the port, who would have to lose 50% of their annual revenue, the newspaper said.