Spain and Morocco to Discuss Reopening Borders, Resuming Marhaba Operation

José Manuel Albares, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, will travel to Morocco on April 1st, where he will discuss with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita the "complete normalization of ties with the kingdom, including maritime ties", the resumption of the "Strait Crossing (Paso del estrecho) operation" and the "controlled reopening" of the borders in Ceuta and Melilla. The Spanish Foreign Minister has already announced the possible resumption of the Marhaba Operation dedicated to Moroccans Residing Abroad and the reopening of the maritime borders between the two neighboring countries.

"A new stage in relations with Morocco revives the ’Strait Crossing’ operation, whose preparations are already in the minds of Spanish officials from the Ministries of Transport and the Interior. [...] This is already one of the first consequences of the reactivation of diplomatic relations," comments the Spanish newspaper El Periódico, noting however that "it also depends on what Morocco says, which has not yet communicated anything about the Operation".

The reopening of the borders with Ceuta and Melilla will not only allow vehicle owners registered in the EU since 2020 who have been left abandoned to recover them, but also Moroccans Residing Abroad to see their families in Morocco.