Spain will have to vote on suspending its friendship treaty with Morocco

The vote will take place on Wednesday, 30 September, in a plenary session. The motion, tabled by Vox following an interpellation to the government, concerns the consequences of the mass crossings recorded in Sebta on 30 and 31 July, reports Europa Press.

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Santiago Abascal’s party is calling for the “immediate” expulsion of foreign nationals who entered or are staying in Spain irregularly. It also wants to amend the laws that, in its view, prevent the immediate return of people who have crossed the border, and is calling for a full audit of the cost of the crisis that began on 30 July.

The motion also concerns unaccompanied minors. Vox wants to halt their distribution among Spain’s different regions and arrange for them to return to their families or to the protection services in their country of origin. The party cites, in particular, the agreement between Spain and Morocco on the coordinated return of minors.

The friendship treaty directly targeted

The most far-reaching measure concerns relations between Madrid and Rabat. Vox is asking the government to “immediately” promote the suspension of the treaty of friendship, good-neighbourliness and cooperation between the two countries.

Even if adopted, the vote would not automatically suspend the treaty. The motion asks the Spanish government to initiate this process. It comes as Madrid had already said that Moroccan claims over Sebta and Melilla had damaged bilateral relations.

Vox is also demanding that Morocco cooperate “actively, effectively and swiftly” in readmitting its nationals subject to a return or expulsion measure. The proposal calls on Rabat to accept these decisions for Moroccan adults and minors and arrange for their reception.

The party also wants to permanently reinforce the presence of soldiers, police officers and civil guards in Sebta and Melilla. It is calling for new material, technological and logistical resources, as well as rules of engagement to prevent another mass entry. Spain had already reinforced its military presence in Sebta after the July crossings.

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Signed in 1991, the treaty in question provides for political dialogue and several areas of cooperation between the two countries. The vote will notably force the People’s Party to choose between moving closer to Vox on migration policy and its already-expressed position at the local level against a diplomatic break with Rabat.