Thousands of Moroccans from France, Belgium, Germany and other European countries are expected in the coming days in Malaga as part of the 2022 Marhaba Operation, which started on Wednesday, after two years of cancellation due to the health and diplomatic crisis between Spain and Morocco.
Spain has extended by one month from this Wednesday, June 15, the measure requiring Moroccans to have a visa before entering Ceuta and Melilla.
The Vox party has demanded before the Senate "the revocation of the border reopening agreement until Morocco formally and expressly recognizes the undisputed sovereignty of Spain over Ceuta and Melilla and all Spanish territories in North Africa".
The implementation of commercial customs is one of the main conditions to relaunch the economy of Ceuta and Melilla and put an end to smuggling at the borders of the two cities with Morocco, after more than two years of closure.
The health authorities of Melilla have diagnosed rabies in a Moroccan dog that showed symptoms of the disease before its death. It entered the city on May 26.
The President of the Government, Pedro Sanchez, declared on Wednesday before Congress that "the Spanish sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla is beyond doubt". He says he has discussed this with King Mohammed VI.
Spain and Morocco have not reached an agreement on the reopening of the commercial customs in Melilla and the creation of a new one in Ceuta, during the meeting held on Tuesday in Madrid. The two countries have planned to meet again "in the coming days" on this subject.
The Secretary General of the Popular Party (PP) of Melilla, Miguel Marín, insisted on Monday on the necessary "reciprocity" in the goods traffic through the land borders of Ceuta and Melilla with Morocco.
Swept away last July by the Ghali affair which provoked a serious diplomatic crisis with Morocco, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arancha Gonzales Laya, mentions "telephone tappings, complaints, campaigns, including press campaigns" which have "served to blur this humanitarian aid" provided to the Polisario leader, Brahim Ghali.
Spanish and Moroccan delegations will hold a meeting on Tuesday in Madrid to finalize the process of reopening the borders and define the new conditions for the movement of people and goods in Ceuta and Melilla.
Nabil Lakhdar, Director General of Customs of Morocco, affirms that it will be possible to establish a customs infrastructure with Ceuta and Melilla. Beforehand, certain necessary modifications will have to be made.
The Civil Guard has dismantled a criminal network dedicated to hashish trafficking from Morocco that has started using minors to introduce this drug into Melilla after the closure of the borders between Spain and Morocco. In total, 24 people were arrested and 275 kilos of hashish seized.