But the summit, in achieving its goal, ignored the customs problem that the residents of Ceuta and Melilla suffer from, with a non-existent travel system and commercial customs that do not work.
Despite the 14 agreements signed, the Moroccan narrative focuses on one point of the declaration adopted after the bilateral meeting: the declaration dedicated to the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara.
“Spain welcomes the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2797 of October 31, 2025, which affirms that true autonomy Under Moroccan sovereignty The Maghreb Arab Press, the official news agency of the Maghreb, said this was “one of the most feasible solutions to resolve the Moroccan Sahara issue.”
In fact, this issue appears in point 8 of the Declaration and specifies that “Spain welcomes the adoption of Resolution 2797 of the United Nations Security Council, dated 31 October 2025, (…), and welcomes any constructive proposals from the parties in response to the autonomy proposal.”
But at the end of the section, he emphasizes that “genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could be the most feasible solution” for a mutually acceptable solution.
Therefore, it is the first time that “Moroccan sovereignty” has been talked about in Spain, as stated in the presidential decree issued on 10/11/2019. Donald Trumpbecause until now Pedro Sanchez He acknowledged that the Moroccan autonomy plan “is the most serious, credible and realistic option” for resolving the Western Sahara conflict, Not to mention sovereignty.
The document, consisting of 22 pages and 119 sections, stated: “Spain welcomes the dynamic of openness, progress and modernity that Morocco is experiencing thanks to the modernization reforms led by His Majesty the King.”Mohammed VIEspecially the new development model, advanced regionalization, the national strategy for sustainable development, and new social projects.”
Specifically, the “advanced regionalization” of the Alawite monarchy consisted of the transformation of Western Sahara into the “southern provinces” of Morocco.
The issue of Western Sahara was thorny, and the executive authority was present without the presence of any minister from Sumer so as not to disturb Morocco, since they were defending the self-determination referendum for the Sahrawi people.
Even the second vice president Yolanda DiazYesterday, he posted a video clip on social media challenging the government’s official position, saying: “We will not give up a single centimeter of desert land.”
The Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, forgotten
After the meeting, the Canary President. Fernando ClavijoHe expressed his hope that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would communicate with his government “because at this summit they are talking clearly about the Canary Islands,” he confirmed to the media.
He also expressed his regret at not inviting them: “We have taken note and will talk in the future.”
Regarding Morocco’s maritime claims, Clavijo believes that “more than Morocco can do, which defends its legitimate interests, I adhere to what the Spanish government is doing, which is displacing and ignoring the Canary Islands in this type of relationship.”
Others forgotten from this summit included the authorities and businessmen from Melilla and Ceuta, who did not have much hope for the RAN.
Enrique AlcobaThe president of the Melilla business association CEME-CEOE and the Merchants Association denounced that, in addition to the fact that trade customs “does not work,” there is “little will on the part of Spain” to resolve the situation.
The Melilla businessman sees only one solution: “Since there is no indication that the travel system works in both directions, Spain had to have the courage to close the travel system in the direction of Morocco to Ceuta and Melilla.”
This is one of the points of the road map that the two countries signed in 2022, and ratified on Thursday, but no solution has been reached after three years.
Specifically, the press was interested in asking about these issues, but the Spanish president did not hold the usual press conference after these summits.
The Federation of Associations of Journalists in Spain (FAPE) issued a statement in which it expressed its regret over this decision and considered this lack of clarifications “unacceptable.”
He points out that “this position restricts the right to freedom of information and contradicts the principles that should govern the media conduct of the executive branch.”
Child marriage
The new work program, which was signed yesterday with Morocco, will pay special attention to education, culture, sports, scientific research, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, commitment to the environment, the global fight against climate change and its effects, energy, and the transition towards a clean, sustainable and flexible energy model.
But what is most important is that, for the first time, women’s rights appear reflected in an act with these characteristics.
foreign ministers, Jose Manuel Albarez and Nasser BouritaThey met at the Viana Palace early Thursday, before the summit in Moncloa, to talk about “relevant agreements, such as feminist diplomacy, cooperation between diplomatic schools and the exchange of young diplomats between the two countries,” according to a ministry statement.
This MoU aims to “promote gender equality and Empowering women and girls In foreign work, as well as in the field of exchange of young diplomats to develop training programs, mobility and cooperation between diplomatic schools.
Specifically, in the neighboring country reform BlogThe Family Code, which was ordered by King Mohammed VI in 2024.
The Minister of the Interior himself Abdul Latif WehbeThey admitted on Monday in Rabat’s parliament that they do not know when the blog will be published: “We are waiting, there are discussions and disagreements, but some consensus has been reached.”
In 2024, 8,955 cases of child marriage were recorded in Morocco, despite the Minister’s insistence on continuing efforts to reduce this practice and enhance the protection of minors.