Vuelve el transporte de pasajeros marítimo entre España y Marruecos
The Moroccan government authorities have given maritime transport companies permission to resume their activity on the port connections between Morocco and Spain.
A document from the Moroccan Ministry of Transport and Logistics, made public by Rue20 journalist Mohamed Charbi, reads: "Following the announcement of the immediate and progressive resumption of the activity of passenger transport by sea, the shipping companies working on the maritime lines of the Moroccan ports of Tangier Med, Tangier City, Nador and Al Hoceima are called upon to resume their activity", giving the green light to companies such as the shipping company Armas, or Transmediterranea.
The change comes after the beginning of the new diplomatic stage between the governments of Spain and Morocco, a consequence of Spain's support for the Moroccan autonomy proposal for the Sahara. It is the first fruit of the government's visit to Rabat and the celebration of the Iftar between Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Morocco's King Mohamed VI.
The conditions of travel are similar to those of other types of services, such as air travel. Travellers must present a negative PCR before boarding, according to the document made public.
The return of passenger shipping services also makes possible the 2022 Crossing of the Straits operation, which had not been carried out through Spain for two years. As announced by the Foreign Minister, José Manuel José Manuel, at a press conference prior to the visit, the Spanish and Moroccan governments are working together to ensure that this operation is carried out with the best possible guarantees this summer.
Operation Crossing the Strait is the great caravan of the Moroccan diaspora, or even Tunisians and Algerians, who return to the Maghreb for holidays every summer. They are mostly families of Maghrebi origin who have been living for several generations in different European countries, such as France, Belgium or Germany.
This is good news for the Spanish business sector, and also for small businesses. The transit of passengers for Spanish shipping companies is an income that the companies have not been able to obtain since the beginning of the pandemic and the closure of borders. Also for all the road businesses for which the passage of travellers through Spain to the southern ports meant extra income every summer, given the high volume of travellers in the Paso del Estrecho operation.
As for the Ceuta and Melilla crossings, the Spanish and Moroccan governments are committed to gradually opening both borders and establishing a customs post at both. In the case of Melilla it already existed, but was closed in 2018. According to information from the digital newspaper El Faro de Ceuta, details of the opening of the crossing points will be known in the coming months. No date has been given by the authorities.
Diplomatic sources have told the EFE news agency that the collaboration between Spain and Morocco to establish these customs posts in Ceuta and Melilla is proof of a real change in relations, especially on the part of Morocco, which did not accept customs in the past, and may signify a sincere respect for Spain's territorial integrity with regard to the two autonomous cities.
For the inhabitants of the autonomous cities, Sánchez's announcement in Rabat is of great significance, as reported by local media in both autonomous cities. Also key is the issue of Moroccan workers and porters, who, before the closure of the crossing points, were a daily feature of the borders in Ceuta and Melilla.
It remains to be seen how the two governments' plans to provide solutions to the social agents in both cities will materialise.