Spain’s Interior Ministry announced on Thursday that preparations for the Marhaba operation between Spain and Morocco are underway, and are set to be finalized in the upcoming weeks.
The announcement followed a meeting between the undersecretary of the Interior Ministry, Isabel Goicoechea, and the Director of Migration and Border Surveillance of Morocco, Khalid Zerouali in Rabat.
Today’s meeting, attended by the Joint Spanish-Moroccan Commission, was an occasion to plan the whole process as well as implement the roadmap developed in the previous meeting held last April by the Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, and King Mohammed VI.
“Operation Marhaba 2022 is an example of good cooperation between both neighboring countries,” said the undersecretary in her speech.
About 16,000 officers of the national police and civil guard expected for this operation
Both countries agreed on implementing security measures in order to ensure this Marhaba operation’s edition, which will include 15,995 agents of the National Police and Civil Guard.
Additionally, Spain and Morocco set plans to manage this operation, including the fluidity and security of transit, assistance to travelers, and prevention and protection of public health.
Both sides will work on reinforcing the workforce that will be mobilized in the ports in order to ensure the transit and the reception between Europe and Africa.
Agreements were also reached on providing necessary information about travel schedules, and tickets.
The largest European device
Isabel Goicoechea recalled the logistical and security challenge, stating that over 3 million people and more than 700,000 vehicles were transported within only 3 months.
“It is the largest European device and among one of the largest in the world,” she added.
“The Undersecretary also referred to the bilateral cooperation that has enabled the successful approach of the Marhaba operation since 1986,” she stressed.
Migration plans
The Secretary of State for Security, Rafael Pérez is set to participate tomorrow in the 20th meeting of the Permanent Spanish-Moroccan Group on Migration, taking place in Rabat.
The meeting aims to discuss bilateral cooperation in the management of migration flows.
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