Melilla VP denies Spain FM’s claim of 'normal' operation at commercial customs with Morocco

The government of the Spanish-controlled city of Melilla has denied claims by José Manuel Albares that the commercial customs office with Morocco is open and operating normally, according to Spanish media reports.

Speaking during a plenary session on government oversight in the Melilla Assembly, the city’s vice president, Miguel Marín, said the commercial customs post has remained closed since August 2018 and accused Spain’s central government of misleading residents by claiming it is functioning normally.

“The commercial customs office has been closed for nearly eight years. The government says it is operating normally, but that is just another lie to all Melilla residents,” Marín said.

His remarks came after Albares previously stated that the customs facility was operating, followed by comments from the government delegate in Melilla, Sabrina Moh, who said 46 commercial shipments had crossed the border since the beginning of the year.

Marín also said that goods carried under the travelers’ regime from Melilla to Morocco remain blocked, while the same restriction does not apply in the opposite direction.

He argued that the situation is harming the city’s economy, particularly local self-employed workers, traders and hospitality businesses.

The debate over the customs office began with a question from Coalition for Melilla, the main opposition party in the city.

The party offered to help the local government push the Spanish state to create a system providing businesses with “reliable, regular and accessible information on customs activity.”

According to Spanish media, the party said that if companies knew what they could export and import, how often, under which tariff codes and with what guarantees of continuity, there would be clearer information on the actual operation of the customs office.

Such transparency, it said, would provide legal certainty and support economic activity.

Marín, however, responded that the matter falls under the exclusive responsibility of the central government and urged the party to submit the request to the government delegation in Melilla and follow up regularly with its head, Sabrina Moh.