Spain to examine Morocco’s decision to close commercial borders with Melilla

The Spanish government is planning to hold a meeting dedicated to the closure of commercial borders separating Morocco and Melilla.

On August the 29th, officials from the Ministries of Finance and Foreign Affairs will meet with the government delegate in the enclave to review the decision taken by the Moroccan Customs Administration on August the 1st.

The information was first announced by the Spanish Ministry of Territorial Policies and Public Works in a statement relayed by online newspaper Finzas.com.

«Examining the possible answers»

The meeting, requested by businessmen in Melilla, is going to take place in Madrid. In its communiqué, the ministry defends the department of Spain’s Foreign Minister Josep Borrell but criticizes, on the other hand, the People’s Party (PP).

«The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been closely following the case and it concludes that : The Ministry has been speaking to both the Ministry of Finance and the government delegate in Melilla», explains the same source. However, the text did not refer to a possible participation of Morocco.

Next week’s meeting, which is considered to be the first of its kind, will bring the three parties together to measure «the consequences of the decision on Melilla's economy and on the country in general». They will also «address possible responses» to the surprising closure, concludes the same statement.

Will Sanchez be able to shut critics ?

The meeting is also a way of responding to the wave of criticism launched by People's Party and targeting the Spanish Prime Minister’s cabinet.

On Tuesday and while visiting Melilla, the PP leader openly criticized the ruling party in Spain for not making moves to face the «unilateral decision» made by Morocco.

Faced with the members of his party, Pablo Casado mainly denounced the inaction of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance. «They must take the necessary diplomatic actions for the customs to reopen immediately», he said, recalling that the Sánchez government did not bother «issuing a statement» on the issue.