Morocco, Spain resume cooperation for summer sea crossing

Morocco and Spain resumed cooperation to facilitate the crossing of 3 million Moroccans living in Europe by sea during the summer.

The operation, dubbed Marhaba 2022, was halted for two years due to the pandemic amid tensions between the two countries that broke out last year.

A joint statement issued following the landmark visit of Spain’s Prime Minister to Morocco Pedro Sanchez early April has announced the resumption of the crossing through Spanish ports, in a boon for economic activity in southern Spain.

A meeting was held at the interior ministry between Moroccan and Spanish officials auguring the kick off of cooperation and preparations for the crossing of some 700,000 cars.

Spanish interior ministry said it will dedicate 16,000 policemen to facilitate the operation through different Spanish ports.

Spain and Morocco started a new phase in their bilateral ties, after Spain announced last March support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and for the Sahara autonomy plan, ending a year of diplomatic tension and opening prospects for closer cooperation in economic, political and security areas.