<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>Two vehicles loaded with products from Spain crossed the borders of Ceuta and Melilla on Wednesday heading for Morocco, after the supposed opening of the first customs in history in the case of the former and in what is the first passage of goods through the customs of the latter since Rabat's decision to unilaterally close it in August 2018. However, the vehicle from Melilla was forced to turn around without entering the neighbouring country, without the causes being known.</strong></h4> The passage of the vehicle from Melilla, a van loaded with household goods and small appliances, was verified on the ground by the newspaper 'El Faro de Melilla', which also stated that the van "had to turn around, without entering the neighbouring country, although the reason for why this happened has not been specified." In statements to National Radio of Spain, a manager of the Quiles company, owner of the truck, said that the vehicle could not reach Moroccan territory because the country's authorities had denied it entry. The delegate of the Government of Melilla, Sabrina Moh, did not want to confirm or deny the reopening of the Melilla customs and referred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Department headed by José Manuel Albares has avoided any information on the matter. On the other hand, the newspaper 'Faro de Ceuta' reported that a truck loaded with cleaning products from a Ceuta company began its journey at three o'clock on Wednesday afternoon from the port of Ceuta towards the Tarajal border. Finally, the vehicle was able to cross the border crossing with Morocco. The central government has not confirmed this information either. Ceuta has never had a customs office with Morocco, so if it were to open definitively, it would be the first in its history. Last week, the newspaper ‘El País’ reported that Spain and Morocco were, after more than two years and eight months of talks, in the final stretch of negotiations for the opening of the two customs offices, provided for by the roadmap agreed in April 2022 during the visit of President Pedro Sánchez to Rabat and after the surprising decision of Pedro Sánchez’s government to recognise the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara, which marked a reversal of Spain’s traditional position on this issue and opened a new period in bilateral relations. The government sources cited by the newspaper assure that the agreement provides for a limited transit of goods, with only one truck per day in each direction at each customs post, at specific times. According to sources, Spain will only be able to export certain goods, such as hygiene and cleaning products, household appliances and electronics, which are not manufactured in the autonomous cities, while Morocco will transport fresh products, such as aggregates, fruit, vegetables and fish. For the moment, the PP requested last Friday the convening of the Permanent Commission of the Congress of Deputies to try to force the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, to explain in Parliament the “conditions imposed” by Morocco for the reopening of the commercial customs of Melilla. For his part, the president of the Autonomous City of Melilla, Juan José Imbroda (of the PP), has warned that the reopening of the commercial customs with the conditions “imposed” by Rabat implies a “loss of economic and political sovereignty” and that Melilla runs the risk of being treated as if it were a Moroccan city.
