In remarks delivered after a sideline meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York on 26 September, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita accused Spain of dragging its feet on returning migrants who entered Ceuta en masse in late July. Speaking alongside Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares, Bourita told reporters that “administrative and legal obstacles in Madrid” are the main reason several thousand people—including unaccompanied minors—remain on Spanish soil. Spanish officials maintain that repatriations must respect EU and national due-process guarantees, especially for minors who may have protection needs. Albares emphasised that more than half of the original 70,000 entrants had already returned voluntarily by the end of August and insisted that further transfers would continue “case by case”. The diplomatic exchange illustrates ongoing friction in the Spain-Morocco migration partnership, a relationship that underpins key travel programmes such as the seasonal-worker corridor for Moroccan farm labourers and streamlined business-visa issuance. Any sustained breakdown could prompt Morocco to tighten exit controls or suspend joint patrols, potentially fuelling new surges that complicate mobility across the Strait of Gibraltar. Global companies that shuttle staff between the two countries—particularly in agriculture, automotive manufacturing and renewable-energy projects—should prepare for possible bureaucratic slowdowns in visa processing or sudden policy announcements. Maintaining close contact with consular providers and building extra lead time into assignment schedules is advisable until the repatriation dispute is resolved.
Source: Voice of Spain
