After extending the state of health emergency until August 10, the Moroccan government authorizes its nationals and foreign residents in Spain to return to the kingdom by plane, with departures from Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga.
Parliamentarians Teresa López and Yolanda Merelo are asking the government for explanations on the situation of Moroccans residing abroad who came from Europe with their vehicles and are now stranded in Ceuta and Algeciras, waiting for the opening of the Moroccan borders.
Spain is ready for the Marhaba operation as soon as Morocco decides to open its borders, through which nearly three million Moroccans residing abroad, mainly in Europe, pass each year.
Despite the cancellation of the Marhaba 2020 operation, an emergency plan is needed to allow the transit of Moroccans residing abroad (MREs), especially from France and Italy, who are waiting for the borders to open in order to reunite with their loved ones.
From July 15, Moroccan citizens, Moroccans residing abroad, as well as foreign residents, will be able to enter and leave the kingdom, only by air and sea.
The members of the steering committee of the Marhaba operation in Spain met by videoconference on Wednesday to establish an emergency plan.
The executive director of Frontex, Fabrice Leggeri, assured that the European Border and Coast Guard Agency is ready "to support the Spanish authorities in terms of health and security policy," at the request of the Spanish government.
The Spanish mayor, José Ignacio Landaluc, warns of a massive influx of Moroccans living abroad (MRE) in transit to Morocco from the port of Algeciras.
The government of Ceuta has explained that it has no "particular interest" in the Marhaba Operation crossing the city this year due to the risks that the passage of thousands of Moroccans could entail.
The Foreign Affairs Committee announces a meeting to discuss Operation Marhaba in light of the health crisis the world is going through and the precautions to be taken to preserve the health of people.
The Marhaba 2020 operation, officially canceled, is caused by Moroccans arriving from France and other European countries with their vehicles and who are blocked in Ceuta, awaiting a hypothetical opening of the Moroccan borders.
Due to Covid-19, the return of thousands of Moroccans to their country of origin to reunite with their loved ones is threatened this year.