Doha – A truck carrying approximately 600 kilograms of home appliances successfully crossed from Melilla into Morocco on Wednesday, marking the first commercial export through the Beni Enzar customs post since its “unilateral closure” in August 2018, according to Spanish media reports.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares confirmed this development as “the first step of the initial phase toward achieving normalized customs operations.”
Speaking from Beirut, Albares emphasized that this progress demonstrates the successful implementation of Spain’s roadmap with Morocco.
The reopening comes after a failed attempt on January 8, which Spanish authorities attributed to “technical issues.”
Albares explained that both countries had initially planned to reopen the customs posts on that date, but additional work was needed to resolve technical matters between the customs authorities.
According to the agreement reached between Spain and Morocco, the initial phase allows for one non-articulated truck daily in each direction, operating between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. hours, excluding holidays in either country.
The agreement specifies that Morocco will export fresh products, including fruits, vegetables, fish, and aggregates, while Spain will export hygiene products, home appliances, and electronics.
Spanish media outlets have claimed that Morocco is using the customs situation to exert pressure on Spain regarding Western Sahara’s airspace control.
However, Albares dismissed these allegations as “strange theories” during his recent address to the Congress of Deputies, affirming that there exists “a clear, transparent roadmap between Spain and Morocco that is being followed.”
The customs reopening follows Spain’s 2022 endorsement of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara, which Spanish media characterized as a dramatic departure from Spain’s traditional neutrality on the dispute.
The border posts between Morocco and the Spanish enclaves, the only land borders between the European Union and Africa, had been completely closed since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local business representatives from Ceuta and Melilla have expressed concerns about the limited nature of the customs operations, as reported by Spanish sources.
The current arrangement represents a significant change from the previous unrestricted customs operations that existed before the 2018 closure.
Read also: Spain Dismisses Reports of Moroccan ‘Obstacles’ in Customs Reopening
