Sanchez reiterates government’s support for Moroccan territorial integrity to Parliament

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez renewed his country’s support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative as “the only possible solution to the Sahara conflict,” stressing full respect for Morocco’s territorial integrity.

During a congressional session this Wednesday, the Spanish Prime Minister doubled down on his government’s position, two months after the initial announcement.

“This position shift means that Spain considers the autonomy proposal the most serious, realistic and credible basis for resolving the conflict,” the official added.

In his speech, he stressed that the new relationship with Morocco respects Spain’s sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla, expressing his hopes that “regular customs borders will soon open, with regular and organized trade.”

In his response to the parliamentary questioning about the details of the agreement concluded with the Kingdom of Morocco, which ended the year-long diplomatic crisis between the two countries but the details of which remain undisclosed, Sanchez stressed that the new Spanish position on the Sahara is a “state position.”

During the parliamentary session, the Spanish official renewed the call for parliament members to “change some positions in order to move forward to a solution,” stressing in his intervention the need for the “full respect for Morocco’s territorial integrity.”

Among the questions, the president received were inquiries about the maritime border delimitation meeting between Morocco and Spain, to which Sanchez responded: “there is an agreement regarding the maritime borders on the Atlantic Ocean, which guarantees the maritime, economic, and environmental interests of the Canary Islands.”

He added that “the new Spanish position regarding the Sahara is based on clear foundations based on international legitimacy, and is in line with other international positions,” referring in particular to “the French position of support for the Moroccan initiative,” in addition to the US, the Netherlands and Germany, who have all supported the autonomy proposal tabled by Morocco.

Sanchez insisted on the validity of the joint declaration signed on April 7 subsequent to his meeting with King Mohammed VI, saying it represents a “new framework of understanding” with the North African kingdom.

The head of the Spanish executive said the agreement allowed for a new communication channel to be opened, “to clarify any misunderstandings, and allowed the opening of the Ceuta and Melilla borders.”