Spain Prepares for Annual ’Operation Marhaba’ to Ease Moroccan Travelers’ Summer Return

Less than a month before the start of this operation, Grande-Marlaska is reassuring, stating that everything is ready to facilitate traffic to Morocco via the strait for Moroccans residing in Europe. Everything is being done to ensure that the special device of the Operation Crossing the Strait or Marhaba takes place "with all guarantees," he said on Sunday during his visit to Melilla.

Grande-Marlaska stressed that Ceuta and Melilla have been participating in this operation for 35 years "with totally satisfactory results" and "very well-oiled protocols". However, he adds, the objective is to "continue to improve, if possible, the service" provided to these thousands of Moroccan travelers who transit through Spain each year to go spend their summer vacations in Morocco.

The Spanish-Moroccan Joint Monitoring Commission for the Operation met this week to provide details of the special civil protection plan, which will be finalized in the coming weeks. Last year, a total of 2,912,283 passengers and 695,487 vehicles participated in the Transit Operation.

The Spanish Minister of the Interior took the opportunity to recall that the Spanish and Moroccan authorities continue to work for the opening of the customs of Ceuta and Melilla, in accordance with the agreements concluded a year ago between Pedro Sanchez and King Mohammed VI.