Spain Implements Measures to Ease Border Congestion for Moroccan Expatriates

Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that the situation in Ceuta is not as alarming as some would like to make it out to be, recalling that according to the data of the government delegation, traffic has only increased by 45% compared to the 2019 Marhaba Operation.

"Emergency plans are in place, which has allowed us to react quickly and take specific measures to resolve this situation," explained the Spanish Interior Minister to El Confidencial Digital. For its part, the government delegation acknowledged last weekend that the traffic between Algeciras and Ceuta will be very intense in the coming days due to the celebration of Eid al-Adha scheduled for July 10 in Morocco.

For the local authorities, this influx is noted in the autonomous city due to the low cost of the crossing through Ceuta (50% less than from the Spanish ports). According to them, the traffic jam at the border would be due to the "strict" health and documentary controls carried out by the Moroccan border police. New waiting areas will be opened urgently to facilitate and accelerate the transit of Moroccans living abroad, the delegation announced.