The government of Melilla has criticized the European Union for funding the construction of Morocco's Nador West Med port. Daniel Ventura, the city's third vice-president and councilor for environment and nature, said: «They place every conceivable obstacle in front of us, while putting none in front of Morocco. While they impose all these restrictions on us, they impose nothing on Morocco». Ventura pointed to the financial backing provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which has supported the Nador West Med project through three loans, the most recent in March totaling €110 million. He further claimed during a press conference that some of the waste polluting Melilla's waters originates from Nador port, which lies across the border from the autonomous city. At the same time, Ventura praised the city's cleaning crews, who work year-round to monitor and collect solid waste that may be discharged into the coastal areas.
