Traders in Melilla have sought the help of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament to «adopt the necessary measures and thus oblige Morocco to unblock the imports» of the city. A message that the president of the Confederation of Businesses of Melilla conveyed in a letter addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Arancha Gonzalez. But before taking this step, Enrique Alcoba wanted to meet the minister in order to «present (his) intentions and solicit her once again to put an end to the escalation against the principles of good faith and good neighborliness which must govern relations between two friendly countries», he wrote in a letter sent to Yabiladi. Alcoba referred to «the lack of reaction» on the part of the government of Pedro Sanchez and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the face of «various verbal attacks and acts committed by the Kingdom of Morocco». In another press release, the Confederation explained that processing with the Council of Europe, an intergovernmental organization that brings together 47 European states, will be done through Spanish MEPs. «We hope to have the support of all the political parties represented in Melilla through their respective European parliamentary groups and, of course, with the current Spanish government», underlines the entrepreneurial organization. Morocco closed in August 2018 its trade border with Melilla and the measures subsequently decreed as part of its fight against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, which heavily impacted the economy of the city. However, this new situation has benefited the port of Almeria, which has become the main entry point for consumer products destined for Morocco.
