In May 2021, approximately 10,000 individuals entered the autonomous city of Ceuta illegally from Morocco. Since that time, the North African nation has received nearly €7 billion in aid and favorable loans from Europe through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). Notably, €1.045 billion of this funding has come from Spain via the Fund for the Internationalization of the Company (FIEM). These funds were intended to bolster the Moroccan economy, stimulate its society, and enhance living conditions. However, despite this substantial financial support, the situation seems to have deteriorated, as evidenced by a massive unauthorized influx of 80,000 people into Ceuta at the end of July 2026. Morocco continues to leverage immigration issues, yet its economy remains heavily reliant on Spain, its primary supplier and customer, as well as on the wider European Union.
Beyond the assistance provided by the Spanish government to Morocco since 2021—such as loans of €750 million to finance the delivery of 40 intercity trains and €250 million for the Casablanca desalination plant aimed at alleviating the water crisis—critical infrastructure projects for Morocco's economic development have been financed in previous years. One significant project was the conventional railway signaling of the Tangier Med-Casablanca lines, which received funding of €81 million in 2013. This advancement greatly enhanced logistics, as approximately 70% of goods transported by train in Morocco head to its ports for further transit to Europe.
In fact, the maritime route serves as a key strategic lever for Spain to influence Morocco's international trade. The industrial success of Morocco has been built upon attracting major multinational corporations that produce within its borders, allowing them to deliver their products to Europe in record time—between 24 and 48 hours. This swift transit is contingent upon Spain not conducting exhaustive physical security inspections on every Moroccan vessel passing through the ports of Algeciras or Tarifa; such inspections would delay transport and undermine the competitive advantage. For context, Tangier Med port managed the flow of 535,203 heavy trucks heading to Europe in 2025, which accounts for around 70% of all Moroccan exports to the EU, with the Strait of Gibraltar being the primary transit point. Currently, the inspection policy favors smooth transit from Morocco, but tightening these regulations could significantly impact trade.
Additionally, Moroccan immigrants who leave the country to work and send remittances back home play a significant role in the nation's economy. In this regard, Spain is of particular importance, as it ranks as the second largest source of remittances sent to Morocco. In 2025, Morocco received €1.589 billion (12.5% of total remittances) from relatives residing in Spain, out of a total of €12.731 billion. France has historically led in this category, contributing about 30% of the total—meaning that in 2025, Moroccan residents in France sent approximately €3.8 billion back to their home country.
If a tax were to be imposed on these remittances, Morocco would lose a crucial means of balancing its trade deficit between imports and exports. In 2025, Spain imported goods from Morocco worth €10.427 billion (primarily electrical equipment, clothing, vehicles, and food). Conversely, the value of goods flowing into Morocco from Spain was recorded at €12.330 billion (mainly fuel, machinery, and vehicles). Thus, the trade balance is favorable for Spain, but the relationship is much more significant for Morocco, which depends on Spain for nearly one in four euros of its exports.
The Agricultural Sector and Economic Relations
The Kingdom of Morocco has transitioned from a predominantly agrarian economy to becoming an exporter with the approval of Europe, but this transformation is contingent on maintaining a quality institutional relationship between the two continents. Indeed, there are sectors advocating for stricter import conditions for Moroccan products, particularly in agriculture, yet Spain has resisted such measures to preserve a stable partnership. In the first quarter of 2026, Spain imported 70% more tomatoes from Morocco than in the same period a decade prior, according to a study by Hortoinfo.
Moreover, Spain also serves as a generator of wealth and jobs in Morocco. This is not only because Spanish companies are responsible for executing government-funded projects (such as Acciona at the Casablanca desalination plant) but also because, according to the Spanish Investment Registry, the stock of Spanish investments in Morocco as of December 31, 2024, amounted to €2.5085 billion, creating 25,139 jobs. Furthermore, Spain contributes to the development of Morocco's local economy through tourism: in 2024, Morocco welcomed 4 million tourists from Spain, reflecting a 15% increase from the previous year. This figure positions Spain as the second-largest source of tourists to the Kingdom, surpassed only by France, which contributed 5.2 million travelers in the same year.
As reported by elmundo.es.
