The strategic importance of the Strait of Gibraltar’s fixed link project between Morocco and Spain, both for the two Kingdoms and for Europe and Africa, was at the heart of discussions during a conference held Wednesday in Madrid.
This meeting, held at Casa Arabe (Arab House), an institution under the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the occasion of the presentation of the new issue of the magazine ”Awraq”, specializing in the affairs of the Arab-Muslim world, placed emphasis on the relevance of this project, which will be the culmination of a long process of evolution of economic and political relations between Morocco and Spain.
Jose Luis Goberna Caride, President of SECEGSA (the Spanish Society for Fixed Communication Studies through the Strait of Gibraltar), highlighted the progress of this project, in light of Morocco and Spain’s reaffirmed commitment to move forward with the resumption and promotion of studies related to the development of this major project.
Goberna Caride recalled that this willingness was confirmed by the signing of the memorandum of understanding on infrastructure at the Morocco-Spain high-level meeting held between February 1 and 2 in Rabat.
“The Strait of Gibraltar is a key area between Morocco and Spain, noting that this fixed link project aims to unite two countries and two continents, which could strengthen the rapprochement at all levels, namely the economic, social, cultural, and human ones,” stated history professor at the University of Hamburg, Sabine Panzram.
Panzram further added that the geographical position of the Strait of Gibraltar allows this project to play an essential role in the Euro-African strategy of major international land transport networks in both Morocco and Spain.
Other speakers noted that the Strait of Gibraltar is currently a hub for maritime exchanges of people and goods between Europe, North Africa, the Mediterranean, and North America, especially following the port and industrial developments of Tangier and Algeciras Bay in recent years.
The participants in this conference were also informed of the technical details of this future structure, which has been continuously improved by the studies and reflections conducted in recent years, driven by a dynamic of research, development, and scientific innovation that is highly productive and evolving.
In its Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PRTR), the Spanish government allocated EUR 2.3 million (€) of European funds to support the development of studies related to this project.