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Join on Telegram Rabat – A Spanish-Moroccan delegation is holding on Thursday, May 5 a meeting in Rabat as part of the preparation for Operation Marhaba 2022. Operation Marhaba is an annual program that welcomes the Moroccan diaspora (MRES) who wish to spend their summer holidays in Morocco.
Spanish news agency EFE reported that Spanish Undersecretary of the Interior Isabel Coicoechea is representing Spain during a meeting.
The Spanish delegation will also include representatives from the Ecological Transition Ministry, as well as from the ministries of foreign affairs and transport.
Moroccan news outlet Le360 reported that Khalid Zerouali, Morocco’s director of migration and territorial surveillance, will represent Morocco during the high-level meeting.
The meeting is part of a joint commission that Spain and Morocco agreed to establish to tackle preparation for Operation Marhaba in 2022.
The Operation Marhaba initiative takes place between June and September. Over 3.2 Moroccans from all over Europe traditionally cross Spanish ports to reach Morocco as part of Operation Marhaba.
Spain and Morocco announced the establishment of the commission during the visit to Morocco of Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in March.
The visit marked the end of a year-long diplomatic crisis between Spain and Morocco. The crisis was triggered by Spain’s decision to host Polisario leader Brahim Ghali in April 2021.
Due to tensions in 2021, Morocco excluded Spanish ports from last year’s Operation Marhaba, which facilitates the transit of Moroccan diaspora members seeking to return home for the summer holidays.
Spain and Morocco overcame their bilateral crisis after a series of dialogues and Spain’s official endorsement of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible basis to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
Spain and Morocco expressed determination to strengthen and improve bilateral cooperation and have agreed to cooperate for a successful Operation Marhaba.
In addition to today’s meeting, Spain and Morocco will hold a second high-level meeting on Friday. EFE said that the Spanish-Moroccan Group on Migration will convene in a meeting that will mark the presence of “higher level authorities’ ‘ from Spain.
In the meeting, Spain and Morocco will discuss common irregular migration challenges.
Spain and Morocco cooperate in different fields, including counterterrorism, action against irregular migration, and trade, among others.
The two countries have vowed to open a new phase of relations based on mutual trust, respect, and transparency.
