Spain to open Melilla, Ceuta borders with Morocco 'in upcoming days'

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced the reopening of the border crossings of Spanish enclaves Ceuta and Melilla “in the coming days.” after more than two years of their closure.

Jose Manuel Albares, Spanish Foreign Minister, had defended the current reality and future prospects of Moroccan-Spanish relations, saying that “the bilateral relations between Rabat and Madrid are good in light of the new political rapprochement on many common issues.”

In a press interview with the Moroccan Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of the international coalition against ISIS in Marrakesh, Albares added this Tuesday evening that “the bilateral meeting led to an agreement on a future roadmap to deepen bilateral relations.”

The news comes a day after the first official meeting between Moroccan FM Nasser Bourita and his Spanish counterpart yesterday in Marrakesh.

Both parties have reiterated that the Kingdoms have surpassed their year-long diplomatic crisis, and have initiated a new phase of relations.

Borders to the enclaves have remained closed for two years, first due the COVID-19 pandemic, then due to the diplomatic differences between both countries. The closure led to much economic hardship for the enclaves’ citizens and cross-border Moroccan workers.

However, since Spain’s historic decision to officially support Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara, both countries are speeding up the recovery of their diplomatic, economic and migratory relations.