Spain's Senate Calls for Maritime Border Report with Morocco

On October 1, 2026, the Spanish Senate made a significant move regarding its maritime borders with Morocco, demanding a detailed report from the government within three months. This action follows a motion adopted on Thursday which emphasizes the need to revive discussions with Rabat, also involving the Canary Islands government. The motion, which received backing from the Popular Party (PP) and the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), was passed by the General Commission of Autonomous Communities. However, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) opposed this non-legislative initiative led by Javier Armas, a senator from the Agrupación Herreña Independiente, as reported by Europa Press.

The requested report is set to clarify the progress made in the ongoing negotiations, outline unresolved issues, and detail planned actions. It will be submitted to the Senate, the Congress, and the Canary Islands government, ensuring confidentiality is maintained throughout the process.

Canary Islands Demand Inclusion in Negotiations

Beyond simply reporting, the motion seeks to reactivate the working group between Madrid and Rabat, ensuring representation from the regional government of the Canary Islands. It strongly advocates for the preservation of Spanish sovereignty over the Canary waters while also respecting the ongoing status of Western Sahara and adhering to United Nations resolutions. The motion emphasizes the necessity of separating maritime delimitation discussions from other bilateral matters, such as migration cooperation and border control, while rejecting any unilateral actions that could infringe upon Spanish sovereignty or contravene the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The backdrop to these discussions is Morocco's recent diplomatic advances at the UN, where it has asserted claims for comprehensive management over the airspace and maritime areas of Western Sahara. This strategy aims to resolve the longstanding status quo that has persisted since 1976, reflecting Morocco's ambitions to consolidate its territorial claims.

As reported by bladi.net.