Spanish Enclaves Ceuta and Melilla Prepare for New Era of Morocco Border Relations

The Finance Manager of Melilla, Dunia Almansouri, indicated, during an economic forum held in the city, that the resumption of the activities of the customs post unilaterally closed by Morocco in August 2018 will be one of the first issues to be resolved as soon as the border reopens. Almansouri is aware that the border "will no longer be the same" and that smuggling will disappear. This is why the autonomous city will be transformed into a "commercial city" that attracts Moroccan visitors and potential buyers looking for brand-name products that would not be available in the city of Nador and its surroundings.

To read: Ceuta Seeks Economic Growth Beyond Moroccan Tourism

For her part, the head of Economy, Finance and Civil Service of Ceuta, Kissy Chandiramani, agrees with her counterpart in Melilla that Ceuta does not want to live by turning its back on Morocco. "It will not be a question of returning to the situation before March 2020 marked by illegal trade, but of setting up a modern customs system to control entries and exits and any potential migratory flows," she explained.

Morocco closed its border with Ceuta and Melilla on March 13, 2020 to limit the spread of Covid-19. Since then, the border has remained closed and for the moment, no date has been announced for its reopening.