Spain’s Foreign Minister reacts to the cancelation of Operation Marhaba

Is Spain ready for receiving Moroccans living abroad wishing to cross the Mediterranean to spend holidays in Morocco this summer? The Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya was asked this question during a radio interview.

«If there are Moroccan citizens who want, in a more than individual way, to return to their countries this summer (...) Spain is ready for this transit of these citizens», she replied.

The Minister stressed that Rabat and Madrid have maintained «close contact» on this issue, adding that she has discussed the matter «many times» with her Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita in order to coordinate and prepare in «the best possible way what could happen».

Arancha Gonzalez Laya acknowledged that the two countries are facing «an atypical summer» because of the Covid-19 pandemic. She believes that the number of Moroccans living abroad who will spend their holidays in Morocco this summer will be lower than the figures recorded in previous years. «However, if there are citizens who want to do it, we can manage it», she reiterated.

Monday at the House of Representatives, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans residing abroad, Nasser Bourita  announced that «as a concept, the operation (Marhaba) will not take place, because we didn't prepare anything in April».