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Rabat – Spain and Morocco are preparing to initiate the 2022 Marhaba operation, a yearly program that welcomes Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) back home during the summer season.
Spain and Morocco announced the news in a joint declaration King Mohammed VI and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez released following their meeting on Thursday in Rabat.
The decision is part of a “sustainable and ambitious” roadmap the two countries agreed upon as part of the new phase of bilateral relations.
Rabat and Madrid decided to open a new phase of relations after a year-long diplomatic crisis due to Spain’s decision to host Polisario leader Brahim Ghali for hospitalization last year.
Overcoming the crisis, Spain and Morocco expressed determination to forge cooperation in all sectors, including border monitoring, security, culture, and education.
The two countries announced the immediate reopening of borders for passenger and goods trafficking. The reopening of borders will begin gradually until levels are back to normal..
The decision includes the inclusion of Spanish ports in the 2022 Marhaba operation.
Due to 2021 tension, Morocco excluded Spanish ports from last year’s Marhaba operation, which facilitates the transit of Moroccan diaspora members seeking to return home for the summer holidays.
The operation starts in June and continues until September.
The number of Moroccans who cross Spain annually to come back to Morocco for summer vacation ranges between 2.5 million to 3 million.
Morocco’s decision to exclude Spanish ports from the Marhaba initiative last year stirred frustration among Spanish policymakers as well as Spanish media.
Spanish Ports authorities explained that the decision could result in 3,000 jobs losses in Granada alone.
Others estimated the Spanish port of Motril lost over €20 million as a result of Rabat’s decision.
In 2021, Spanish news outlet La Razon said that the Moroccan decision could cost Spain €1.15 billion..
The Spanish outlet emphasized that over 3.2 Moroccans from all over Europe traditionally cross Spanish ports to reach Morocco as part of the Marhaba operation.
Other areas of cooperation
In addition to Marhaba operations, Spain and Morocco decided to work together in different sectoral fields, such as the commercial, energy, industrial, and cultural sectors.
The two countries also decided to facilitate economic exchange and links between the two countries.
Spain and Morocco will also establish a working group to boost cooperation in vocational training and higher education, a priority in the new phase of bilateral relations between the two countries.
Spain and Morocco will also initiate a working group to cooperate in the cultural and sports sector.
“A new impetus will be given to the Board of Directors of the Three Cultures Foundation,” the joint declaration said.
The joint statement announced that King Mohammed VI and Sanchez will appoint a committee to ensure the implementation of all key elements the two countries agreed to initiate as part of the new phase of bilateral relations.
