New Melilla Party Advocates for the Demolition of the Border Fence
The New Melilla party has put forth a bold proposal aimed at dismantling the border fence that separates the Spanish autonomous city of Melilla from the neighboring Nador region in northern Morocco. Drawing inspiration from the successful collaboration between Gibraltar and La Línea de la Concepción, the party believes that the images emanating from Gibraltar should prompt reflection across Europe, particularly in relation to Melilla. The party stated that, "In places where a fence once stood for decades, a new era of free movement, institutional cooperation, and economic opportunities for tens of thousands of people is now beginning."
New Melilla envisions a historic moment where the President of the Autonomous City of Melilla and the Mayor of Nador would jointly address the media to announce shared projects, investments, and a message of institutional cooperation and coexistence. They emphasize that this vision does not require renouncing identities, sovereignties, or political positions but rather aims to foster collaborative spaces that benefit all parties involved.
According to Isaac Fernández, a spokesperson for the party, "We are a Spanish, autonomist, and Melillense party, and we aspire for this city to remain Spanish, just as Gibraltar is likely to remain British. However, this does not preclude us from maintaining a fluid, constant, and open relationship with our neighboring city, Nador." Fernández expressed a sense of "envy" regarding the developments in Gibraltar, highlighting its transformation from a completely closed border reliant on supplies from London to its current state, which fosters economic and social interactions.
Hope for a Borderless Future
Fernández lamented the situation in Melilla, describing it as a city that has turned into a "bunker, a prison," with the fence acting as an impenetrable wall for the majority of the Moroccan population. He notes that accessing Morocco has become increasingly challenging for many Melillenses. The party's aspiration is clear: to envision a future where the border fence no longer exists, allowing free passage between Morocco and Melilla in a normalized transit environment. However, they acknowledge that at present, and likely in the near future, dismantling the Melilla-Morocco fence is not feasible.
Despite these challenges, New Melilla remains optimistic, recalling that the border between Gibraltar and La Línea was once completely sealed over 40 years ago, demonstrating that change is possible. In the short term, they advocate for a more flexible border control system, reminiscent of conditions that existed prior to Morocco's closure of its borders in 2020, laying the groundwork for future discussions about dismantling the fence.
Additionally, the party proposes negotiating a new Good Neighbor Treaty akin to the agreements made for Gibraltar, arguing that the European Union has a significant role to play in negotiations with non-EU countries, as seen in the past with the UK. They recognize that achieving such an agreement would require a consensus between Morocco, a non-EU country, and the European Union.
While it remains uncertain whether Morocco would be open to such proposals, New Melilla has established connections with other political parties both in Melilla and Ceuta. The proposal has yet to be formally presented to the Melilla government, but Fernández has stated they would be willing to meet with the city’s president, Juan José Imbroda.
New Melilla suggests that Imbroda engage with Nador authorities to establish institutional relations between local administrations of both countries, emphasizing the importance of connectivity given that a significant portion of Melilla's population has family ties across the border. Fernández asserts, "It is not normal to live in complete isolation with our neighboring people." Meanwhile, Coalición por Melilla (CPM), a party with a substantial Muslim electoral base, has yet to officially comment on the proposal, as has the Movimiento por la Dignidad y la Ciudadanía (MDyC) in Ceuta. Fernández encourages these parties to voice their support for an opening or flexibility of the border, fostering normal neighborly relations.
As reported by elespanol.com.
