This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Heba Press – Muhammad Zariyouh
The customs agency of occupied Melilla has resumed its first export operation to Morocco in more than six years, more precisely since August 2018.
According to press reports, the necessary documents were sent by a client last Monday, without revealing the identity of the person concerned or the nature of the sending.
Although this step has been announced, the date of implementation of the shipment nor the amount of customs duties that will be imposed have not been determined.
The sources indicate that Morocco is currently studying the appropriate definitions for this process, as part of a comprehensive study that also includes shipments from Morocco to the occupied city.
This development sparked widespread political controversy in Spain, with the president of the Association of Family Businesses of Andalusia harshly criticizing the government delegate in Melilla, saying the decision to force customs to work on a public holiday was submissive unjustified Moroccan pressure.
He also considered that this approach was to the detriment of the interests of the city and its inhabitants.
In a related context, the representative of the government of Melilla denied reports of the existence of a permanent agreement for the reopening of customs, while the president of the city expressed concern about the lack of adequate protection for the city.
On the other hand, the opposition party Vox continued its criticism, emphasizing that the central government is making continuous concessions in favor of Morocco, which it described as a decline of Spanish policy.
In this climate, Melilla businessmen express their caution regarding this measure, awaiting a future meeting with the government representative to clarify its repercussions on the local economy.
This development comes years after the closure of customs, a measure that had a significant impact on commercial movement between Morocco and Melilla, and is expected to reassess economic relations between the two parties in the near future.
