After a diplomatic quarrel of almost a year between Morocco and Spain, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, will make an official visit on Friday April 1 in Rabat. It comes just after Spain’s recognition of the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco for the resolution of the dispute over the Sahara.
Several issues will thus be discussed during this working visit between the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, and his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita. Among his files, migration, security and the economy.
On the economic level, Driss Effina, the academic and president of the independent center for strategic analyzes recalls that Spain is not just a neighbor for Morocco, but also its first customer, noting that Spain has overtaken France. , for years, in terms of trade with Morocco.
“Being Morocco’s first European client, we have a lot of common interest with the Iberian country, and Spain also has an interest in further developing economic relations between the two countries. Spain benefits a lot from the Moroccan workforce, there is also the energy field, the agricultural field, the tourist field. There are the Renault engines which come straight from the Spanish factories to Morocco and this is the most important part for the Renault factory in Morocco. So there is a lot of exchange between the two countries“, detailed the university.
The diplomatic crisis between Morocco and Spain, triggered after the reception by the European neighbor of the Polisario separatist, Brahim Ghali, has caused a lot of harm to economic operators operating between the two countries. Even the Marhaba operation, from which Spain benefited enormously, was canceled after the recall to Rabat of the ambassador of the Kingdom in Madrid, Karima Benyaich.
Today, diplomatic and economic relations are gradually returning to normal. And for this, the economist Driss Effina believes that economic relations must develop between the two countries in the common interest.
“Spain is ahead of Morocco on several fronts, from which the Kingdom can benefit. I cite solar energy as an example. Spain has a great experience in the field. All of this makes relationships need to grow and overcome anything that gets in the way of good relationships.“, he concluded on this point.
Another point that will probably be raised during this visit is the opening of the maritime space between Morocco and Spain, which has been closed for almost two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Several sources have suggested that the maritime borders will be open next April. According to analysts of the geopolitical scene, they expect the gradual lifting of restrictions on movement between the two countries, in particular maritime transport for the start of the Kingdom’s preparations to welcome Moroccans residing abroad.
This is a season that promises to be exceptional, given the expected number of MREs who will return to Morocco after two years of closure, which directly benefits Spain, from which their tourist and economic operators benefit greatly. .
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