EU Urges Spain to Address Melilla Customs Dispute with Morocco

In response to European Parliament member Jordi Cañas, who complained to the European Commission about the matter, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, Olivér Várhelyi, admitted that the Commission is aware of the situation, but that Spain has not complained, nor has any EU Member State. He also recalled that "customs management is the responsibility of national authorities", reports Melilla Hoy.

MEP Jordi Cañas has called on the Spanish government to notify the European Commission of the violations of the association agreement committed by Morocco by not allowing the transit of goods through the Beni-Ensar customs in Melilla. Cañas accuses President Pedro Sanchez of suffering from Rabat’s strategy aimed at economically asphyxiating Ceuta and Melilla, which he says are European borders.

Morocco has closed the Beni-Ensar commercial customs office in Melilla since August 2018, blocking the flow of goods with Spain. Despite the reopening of the borders on May 17, the status quo remains, denounces the MEP who demands that the EU guarantee the transit of goods through this customs office to put an end to the violation by Morocco of the EU-Morocco agreement and neighborhood policies.