Morocco does not give Sánchez a date for the opening of customs in Ceuta and Melilla, but hopes it will be soon

The president demands migratory cooperation and the fight against drug trafficking with Morocco

Mohamed VI thanks him for the "new constructive and important position" regarding the Sahara

RABAT, 21 (From the special envoy of EUROPA PRESS, Leyre Guijo)

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, leaves Rabat, where he was received in audience by King Mohamed VI and held a long meeting with the Moroccan Prime Minister, Aziz Ajanuch, without a specific date for the opening of customs in Ceuta and Melilla although with the confidence that it could be soon.

Sánchez has acknowledged that on the Spanish side "everything is ready" so that the Melilla customs can reopen and the Ceuta customs can start operating, but on the Moroccan side there are still issues to resolve, but in no case political or legal obstacles. According to him, the Prime Minister has assured him that "as soon as" they are resolved, this step included in the roadmap agreed in 2022 will be taken.

In this sense, the working group on this issue will meet soon to clarify customs regulations. "I hope that soon we can make significant progress on this issue," he confided.

Thus, he stressed that when the opening occurs the will is to "promote transparent and regular trade that must benefit neighboring regions", thus reiterating the desire expressed by both Madrid and Rabat to put an end to the typical irregular trade. of the porters.

On the other hand, Sánchez has highlighted the "exemplary" cooperation that exists with Morocco in immigration matters, praising the good results of the circular migration programs that allow the arrival of temporary workers to Spain, and also in the fight against the mafias that They traffic people.

"We have absolutely no reproaches to make, nor do we have any reproaches to make in the field of the fight against drug trafficking," he assured, after being expressly asked about this issue following the murder of two civil guards in Barbate by a drug boat. .

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE 2030 WORLD CUP

Another of the issues that Sánchez has addressed with both the Alawite monarch and the prime minister has been the joint organization by Spain, Portugal and Morocco of the 2030 World Cup. "It is without a doubt an extraordinary challenge, but above all it is a great opportunity to continue strengthening even more the ties of friendship between the three countries," he said.

The president has placed special emphasis on the opportunities that are opening up for Spanish companies within the framework of the modernization process initiated by Morocco, which plans to invest 45 billion between now and 2050, especially in infrastructure, but also with regard to the organization of the World at the level of railways, stadiums and other necessary infrastructures.

In this sense, Sánchez has opted that when the next RAN is held, which Spain will have to host, foreseeably as early as 2025, a business forum will be held where Morocco can present what its needs are for 2030 and "see how the Spanish companies can participate in this exciting project."

In a subsequent conversation with journalists, the president highlighted the enormous presence that there is already in Morocco of Spanish companies, although he indicated that the Moroccan Government misses a greater presence of IBEX companies, an issue that the Executive has said going to analyze.

REAFFIRMS THE POSITION ON THE SAHARA

In another vein, the president has expressly pointed out that for Spain both the roadmap agreed upon after his meeting with Mohamed VI in April 2022 and the joint declaration after the 2023 summit "is in force and will be fulfilled all and each of the points".

With this, Sánchez wanted to reaffirm the position expressed in his letter to Mohamed VI of support for the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara as "the most serious, credible and realistic basis" to solve the conflict, but without mentioning it. However, the Moroccan press has expressly asked him about his position, to which the president has responded by referring to what both texts say.

Also in the official statement published by the Moroccan Government about the visit, it was highlighted that the president has reiterated to Mohamed VI the Spanish position regarding the Sahara contained in both documents. According to Rabat, the monarch "has thanked Spain for this new constructive and important position."

AUDIENCE WITH MOHAMED VI

Mohamed VI received Sánchez and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, who accompanied him on this official visit, at the Royal Palace, at the entrance to the room where the audience was held and they initially exchanged a few words. in Spanish.

Next, the President of the Government conveyed greetings from Felipe VI. The Alawite monarch has commented that it has been a long time since he has spoken on the phone with the King, to which Sánchez has responded that he will surely be happy to do so because he has great affection for both Morocco and Mohamed VI and both he and the Queen They have good memories of the official visit they made in 2019.

The hearing, which lasted for about 40 minutes, was not confirmed by Moncloa until minutes before landing in Rabat. This Wednesday was the third meeting between the President of the Government and the Alawite monarch.

The first took place in November 2018 and the second took place on April 7, 2022 to stage the end of the diplomatic crisis caused by the reception in Spain of the leader of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, and the Spanish position regarding the Sahara.

Mohamed VI did not receive the President of the Government when he went to Rabat for the High Level Meeting (RAN) on February 1 and 2, 2023, since he was outside the country, but in a telephone conversation he invited him to return in the near future. dates, hence this visit that has however taken a year to materialize.

Sánchez has announced that he has invited the Moroccan prime minister to make "a visit to Spain soon." "It will be a new opportunity to continue strengthening even more our extraordinary bilateral cooperation," he stressed, ensuring that the Moroccan side has also appreciated that same willingness.

In this sense, in its statement, the Moroccan Government has assured that the "new dynamic" initiated with the April 2022 meeting "is being deployed satisfactorily" and is marked by "the reinforcement of cooperation, coordination and partnership in all aspects, based on the principles of trust, mutual respect, ambition, good neighborliness and respect for commitments.