Intensive Moroccan-Spanish Coordination to Ensure the Success of “Welcome 2025” Operation
A high-level meeting of the Moroccan-Spanish joint committee took place yesterday in Cádiz, Spain, to finalize the logistical and security arrangements related to the annual “Welcome 2025” operation, which ensures the safe return of the Moroccan diaspora during the summer season.
The meeting was chaired by Khalid Zerouali, Director of Migration and Border Control at the Ministry of Interior, on the Moroccan side, and Susana Crisóstomo, Secretary of State for the Interior, on the Spanish side, with senior officials from the relevant ministries and agencies of both countries in attendance. Representatives from local authorities in Cádiz, as well as from the ministries of transport, foreign affairs, and the Port Authority of Algeciras, along with officials from civil protection, traffic, and Spanish security, also participated.
The meeting concluded with a review of the technical plans and preparations necessary to ensure the smooth flow of what is considered one of the largest seasonal movements globally in terms of passenger and vehicle transportation. According to data from the Spanish Ministry of Interior, the 2025 edition is expected to see a 5% increase in the number of vehicles crossing and a 4% increase in the number of passengers, compared to 2024, which recorded around 3.4 million people and 850,000 vehicles, a record since the operation began in 1986.
The adopted plan involves a precise distribution of the maritime fleet, including the number of vessels, their capacities, and the scheduling of crossings between the nine ports involved on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar. This operation is viewed as a pioneering model for bilateral cooperation in managing seasonal immigration and ensuring maritime crossings, reflecting the strength of Moroccan-Spanish coordination in the fields of immigration and border security.
