Spain-Morocco Border Reopening: Ceuta and Melilla Set for Legal Trade, End to Smuggling

"Entrepreneurs and professional associations in Ceuta and Melilla no longer want the old border habits. They want a commercial relationship without facilities, without legal loopholes and in respect of human rights. [...] The transport of goods by mule women will not be allowed," it is assured.

According to the joint declaration that sanctioned the meeting between Pedro Sanchez and Mohammed VI in Rabat on April 7, the flow of goods at the borders will only be done through commercial customs. Thus, the customs post in Melilla, unilaterally closed by Morocco in 2018, will be reopened and a new one will have to be created in Ceuta to definitively end smuggling, reports ABC.

To read: Spain Seeks Swift Reopening of Ceuta and Melilla Borders with Morocco

"In November 2019, Morocco had already banned the atypical trade before closing the border in Ceuta in March 2020 due to Covid," recalls Enrique Alcoba, president of the Confederation of Businessmen of Melilla, who hopes for a rapid reopening of the border. For the sub-delegation of the government of Melilla, the reopening of the border will be "progressive". First, border workers and domestic workers, visa holders and EU residents will be allowed to cross.

Then the borders will be fully reopened after the commissioning of the commercial customs in Melilla (to be reopened) and Ceuta (to be created). "There will be no room for smuggling," Alcoba said, calling for the "smart border" that will better control the flow of people and goods. He is aware that the populations of the provinces of Nador and Tetouan lived on this atypical trade. But the economic zone of Fnideq will be able to offer them jobs, he hoped.