Migration crisis in Ceuta: Madrid denies any plans for sanctions against Morocco
Is the Spanish government considering economic sanctions against Morocco in light of a new migration crisis in Ceuta? On Tuesday morning, Spanish public broadcaster TVE reported an «emergency plan» supposedly initiated by Pedro Sánchez’s government. This plan allegedly included halting gas exports to Morocco if migrant crossings into Ceuta continued.
The report, widely circulated by Spanish media, was denied by the government later that evening. «Sources at Moncloa deny that any reports have been commissioned on Rabat’s energy dependence», reported a Spanish outlet.
Officials categorically dismissed the claims made on TVE’s «Mañaneros 360»: «We completely deny the existence of any plan or report regarding an alleged emergency plan against Rabat. This information is false».
Another Spanish media source confirmed, quoting a government source, that no plan for economic retaliation against Morocco was being prepared.
Additionally, the social media account of «Mañaneros 360» removed posts about these supposed «revelations» of an emergency plan by Pedro Sánchez aimed at «punishing» Morocco.
Prior to these «revelations», «Mañaneros 360» aired a segment on August 14 about Morocco’s energy dependence on Spain. The program highlighted that «90%» of gas exports to the kingdom pass through Spain, via the Maghreb-Europe gas pipeline. Morocco is indeed the primary customer of Spain’s regasification terminals.
Moroccan business representatives in the House of Councillors had previously noted this energy reliance in November 2023 and advocated for building a regasification facility in Morocco.
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