The Spanish Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, denied on Monday that the Marhaba Operation had caused a traffic jam in Ceuta last weekend, stressing that these were "occasional situations" and that measures have already been taken to "accelerate" the passage of vehicles and Moroccans living abroad (MRE).
The low cost of the crossing through Ceuta and the strict health and documentary checks at the Tarajal border constitute the two reasons for the significant influx of Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) arriving in the autonomous city, causing a massive traffic jam at the border with Morocco.
The Vox party denounces the lack of preparation for this year’s Marhaba Operation, which is causing a massive traffic jam at the Tarajal border and creating a lot of inconvenience for the residents of Ceuta.
The flow of Moroccans Residing Abroad (MREs) to Morocco as part of the Marhaba Operation has increased considerably in Sebta since Friday. Thousands of people and hundreds of vehicles are spending up to 9 hours in the waiting area set up at the border to avoid traffic jams.
From Tuesday to Friday, nearly 700 citizens of Sebta were allowed to cross the border with Morocco without presenting a complete vaccination certificate (three doses of the Covid-19 vaccine).
The flow of MREs (Moroccans Residing Abroad) increased by 45% in Ceuta this year compared to 2019, the last year the Marhaba Operation was organized, according to estimates by the government delegation.
Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) can no longer stand spending hours at the Tarajal border before entering Morocco. They demonstrated to ask the authorities to find a solution to this situation.
The new NATO strategic document approved on Wednesday at the summit in Madrid, without expressly mentioning Ceuta and Melilla, reaffirmed the Alliance’s determination to "preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all allies against any aggressor".
Several families of Moroccans residing in Europe were blocked at the Tarajal border by the Moroccan authorities for non-compliance with the Covid-19 health requirements. They were asked to return to Spain, causing a massive traffic jam at the Spanish border.
Ciudadanos European MP Jordi Cañas has denounced Morocco before the European Commission for having closed the Melilla commercial customs office in Beni-Ensar for more than 2 years.
The Ministry of Health and the Tax Agency (AEAT) have drawn up a guide to specify the goods that can cross the Tarajal border from Morocco, as well as the authorized quantities and the prohibited products.
A timid start for the Marhaba Operation this year. For this first weekend after the launch of the Operation on Wednesday, the attendance is not at the rendezvous at the Ceuta border with Morocco.