Spain and Morocco hold talks on airspace management, aim to enhance cooperation

The Spanish government has confirmed  two meetings with Morocco over the past two years to discuss airspace management, including that of the Sahara, currently controlled from the Canary Islands, according to Europa Press. 

However, Spanish officials said that the purpose of the meetings was solely to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

The revelation came in a parliamentary response to inquiries from Cristina Valido, a deputy from the Coalition Canaria, regarding agreements concerning the transfer of airspace management between the Canary Islands and the Sahara.

These discussions stem from the joint declaration issued on April 7, 2022, following a meeting between Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and King Mohammed VI in Rabat. 

The declaration highlighted the initiation of talks on airspace management, leading to the formation of a working group on air cooperation. This group has convened twice to enhance collaboration and technical cooperation.

While the specifics of these meetings remain undisclosed, it’s evident that the focus has been on technical cooperation, information exchange, communication in airspace, and safety measures.

Previously, in March 2023, the government disclosed discussions on airspace management and coordination to ensure greater security and technical cooperation. 

However, there’s no explicit mention of the Sahara in the official communications.

Speculations suggest that Morocco may seek control over the Sahara’s airspace, currently managed by Spain from the Canary Islands since 1976. This interest aligns with Morocco’s efforts to assert control over the region.

Morocco requires that Spain cease managing airspace over the Sahara, currently administered from the Canary Islands, a pending matter that is progressing in negotiations with the Sánchez government.

Spanish media reports had said that Sánchez unblocked the transfer to Morocco of the management of the airspace over its Sahara, during his visit to Rabat.

In response to these ongoing talks, the separatist Polisario Front vowed to block Spain’s move to cede control of the Sahara airspace to Morocco, threatening to bring the case before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).