First Commercial Vehicle Successfully Crosses at Ceuta Border Crossing

Doha – The first authorized commercial vehicle completed its transit from Ceuta to Morocco on Tuesday. The vehicle, belonging to Vivera Atlantic-Mediterranean company, carried automotive parts from Rodaco and waited four and a half hours at the border before successfully completing all procedures.

The vehicle entered the border zone at 3:30 p.m. and crossed into Morocco around 8:00 p.m., proceeding to the logistics zone in Fnideq for final customs formalities.

“This first official expedition constitutes a milestone in the normalization of commercial relations between both nations,” stated the Spanish Government Delegation in an official communication.

This success comes after two previous attempts by the same vehicle on January 8 and January 16, when it was turned back while carrying hygiene products after spending about five hours at the border crossing each time.

Spanish Government Delegate Cristina Pérez had earlier clarified that the previous delays were not due to political or diplomatic impediments but rather administrative matters.

“These are purely household issues, documents that need updating, and procedures that need to be smoothed out as we go along,” she explained.

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken a step back from the process, considering that diplomatic matters between the countries have been resolved.

Minister José Manuel Albares met with Ceuta’s President Juan Vivas on January 23, assuring that the commercial customs would open gradually under conventional operating conditions.

According to the established regulations, vehicles from Spain can transport electronics, appliances, and cleaning products. In return, Moroccan exports can include aggregates, fruits, vegetables, and fish products.

Current procedures allow for small trucks only, with limitations on frequency and specific timing requirements.

The process began following Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s announcement of a roadmap for Spain-Morocco relations in Rabat on April 7, 2022, which included provisions for land customs. The negotiations have stretched over nearly three years, resulting in this first successful crossing.

This breakthrough heralds consequential ramifications for the mercantile sectors in Ceuta and Melilla, though Spanish traders have expressed reservations about the current arrangement’s scope and implementation.

Enrique Alcoba, president of Melilla’s business association, expressed concerns about the transparency of the process, stating, “If things continue to be done secretly like this, with just one small van per month, this isn’t customs, nor transparency, nor mutual respect.”

The primary aspiration of residents in both Ceuta and Melilla regarding Morocco extends beyond customs to the establishment of a traveler regime similar to what Morocco implements at its airports.

This would allow people to carry gifts for family members in Morocco or tourist souvenirs worth up to €100 or €200, a practice currently restricted except during the summer’s Operation Crossing the Strait.