Spanish Enclaves Urged to Seek EU Support Against Moroccan Economic Pressure

"If successive Spanish governments do not defend Ceuta and Melilla against the economic asphyxiation to which Morocco is subjecting them, the local authorities, businessmen and civil society have the means to defend themselves...," explains the Morocco expert in El Confidencial. For him, we must leave the Spanish State which does not defend its cities and turn to the European institutions which, for their part, will be able to act without fearing a crisis with Morocco.

Morocco, since the reign of King Hassan II, had always claimed the belonging of Ceuta and Melilla to its territory. But it has not taken concrete actions in this direction. King Mohamed VI, rather than claiming, has constantly suffocated the two autonomous cities economically, especially Melilla, according to Ignacio Cembrero.

However, the cooperation agreement between the EU and Morocco stipulates that "Morocco grants to imports of products originating in Ceuta and Melilla the same treatment granted to imported products originating in the EU". The European Commission has an obligation to ensure compliance with the agreement signed with Morocco, argues the journalist who deplores the absence of complaints against the kingdom in its policy of suffocation towards Ceuta and Melilla.

A policy that has led to the closure of the commercial customs office of Melilla, in contradiction with the EU agreement. In 2010, the Assembly of Ceuta had unanimously approved the entry of the city into the customs union, which would have allowed the borders to be opened towards Europe instead of focusing solely on Spain. Unfortunately, he says, this action did not come to fruition.