Morocco-Spain maritime delimitation negotiation meeting scheduled for Monday

Negotiations for the delimitation of maritime borders between Morocco and Spain have begun, with the participation of Canary Islands representatives.

Months after the return of political relations between Madrid and Rabat to their normal state, the Commission for the Demarcation of Maritime Boundaries off the Coast of Western Sahara is preparing to hold its initial meeting, in the presence of representatives of the Government of the Canary Islands, this upcoming Monday.

Spanish publications highlighted that the Spanish government has resumed negotiations regarding the demarcation of the maritime border with Morocco, to settle differences in bilateral perceptions on the issue.

The Minister of Public Administration, Justice and Security in the Government of the Canary Islands, Julio Perez, will represent the local government at the ministerial meeting, as the archipelago is highly concerned with this bilateral matter.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has always confirmed that the Canary Islands will be present in all technical meetings related to the maritime border delimitation, which mainly concerns Morocco’s southern coasts.

Albares stressed, in a previous interview with Diario de Avisos newspaper, that bilateral negotiations are ongoing between Madrid and Rabat regarding maritime borders on the Atlantic Ocean, noting that the joint committee will meet on more than one occasion to negotiate the official and final bilateral agreement.

The official announcement of the new agreement between Spain and Morocco stipulated that “the working group on the delimitation of maritime areas on the Atlantic Ocean front will be reactivated, with the aim of achieving tangible progress.”

The Moroccan parliament has already approved two legislations defining an area that overlaps with those of the Spanish islands as part of Morocco’s jurisdiction, which may be subject to debate, as the zone could possibly be rich in potential natural resources.

Morocco defines its territorial waters at 12 miles beyond the coastline, marks its exclusive economic zone at 200 miles, and decided to expand its continental shelf to 350 miles, as is allowed by international maritime law.