Morocco is already preparing for the " Marhaba 2023 " operation, which aims to welcome members of the Moroccan community living abroad. Mohamed Abdeljalil, Minister of Transport and Logistics, announced this news before the Commission on Infrastructure, Energy, Mines and Environment on Tuesday.
A few weeks before the start of the Strait Crossing Operation or Marhaba, the port of Malaga is bustling to settle the last logistical details in order to effectively cope with the significant influx of Moroccans from Europe who will transit with or without their vehicles to Morocco.
The Spanish authorities are warning about the existence of criminal gangs posing as Spanish police officers to strip Moroccans residing in the country of their belongings on the Iberian roads as they flock to their country of origin during this period to spend their holidays there.
The Territorial Coordination Committee for the Strait Crossing Operation (OPE) held its first meeting today, Friday. The objective is to ensure increased security and maximum fluidity in the transportation of vehicles and Moroccans living abroad (MREs) using the Algeciras-Ceuta route to Morocco.
No Ceuta official was present at the preparatory meeting for Operation Marhaba held last week in Algeciras and attended by all stakeholders. An absence deemed "unacceptable" by the Confederation of Businessmen of Ceuta (CECE).
Spain and Morocco are preparing for a successful organization of the Marhaba Operation, the largest migration movement between Africa and Europe. As every year, it will take place from June 15 to September 15 and will allow Moroccans in Europe to join the kingdom for their summer vacation.
In Ceuta and Melilla, the authorities are already mobilizing for the Marhaba operation marking the return of Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) to Morocco, in order to improve the crossing process to the kingdom. The operation is expected to start on June 15 and end in mid-September 2023.
Spain and Morocco held a bilateral meeting in Algeciras to discuss the Operation Passage of the Strait (OPE) or Marhaba. The Director Generals of the Merchant Navy of Spain and Morocco, Benito Núñez and Najib Elkarkouri, chaired the meeting, which was attended by officials from the ports of Algeciras, Tarifa, Tanger Med and Tanger Ville. This year, the Moroccan authorities are expecting a significant influx of Moroccans Residing Abroad (MREs), but this enthusiasm could be dampened by the high cost of boat and plane tickets.
Having started its work last June, the "Temporary Exploratory Mission at the Northern Border Crossings, Operation Marhaba 2022", set up by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Islamic Affairs and Moroccans Residing Abroad of the Parliament, has submitted its report which contains many recommendations aimed at improving the conditions for the passage of Moroccans Residing Abroad (MREs).
Considering the high cost of boat tickets, the parliamentary group of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) has asked the government to take measures to facilitate the arrival of Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) as part of Operation Marhaba 2023.
The Marhaba operation dedicated to Moroccans residing abroad is an opportunity for some merchants who do not hesitate to smuggle commercial or prohibited goods.
The reopening of borders and the organization this year of the Marhaba operation have benefited the Italian maritime shipping company Grandi Navi Veloci (GNV), which has drawn up a positive balance sheet at the end of the season and announced an increase in its capacity for next year.