In a recent development within the European Parliament, the political party VOX has raised a provocative question directed at the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE): why is the European Investment Bank (EIB) allocating €365 million to infrastructure projects in Morocco while serious deficiencies persist in Spain's own railway systems? This inquiry highlights a growing concern among Spanish politicians regarding the prioritization of foreign investments over domestic infrastructure needs.
Led by Santiago Abascal and his party, VOX sought to include this criticism in the EIB’s Annual Report for 2025. However, an oral amendment proposed by the party failed to gain traction, as numerous Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), including those from the Spanish socialist delegation, reportedly stood up in opposition to prevent the amendment from being put to a vote. Consequently, this contentious initiative was excluded from the report, although the debate surrounding it has only just begun.
The Controversial Amendment
VOX's proposal explicitly condemned the funding announced by Nadia Calviño on June 30, 2026, intended to enhance the safety of Moroccan roads and railways. The party voiced its concern that the EIB should prioritize infrastructure projects within the European Union instead. While the text of the amendment was included in the voting documentation for the report A10-0170/2026, it ultimately did not make it into the final document. Advocates from Patriotas por Europa argued that the incidents recorded in several EU member states demonstrate maintenance issues that should take precedence over investments in third countries.
According to VOX, the PSOE's collective action to block the oral amendment exemplifies a broader issue: the socialists avoided scrutiny from the European Parliament regarding an operation approved under Nadia Calviño, who previously served as the Economic Vice President of Pedro Sánchez's government. Jorge Buxadé, a member of the European Parliament, asserted that Spaniards have a right to question why their government is more ardent in supporting Moroccan infrastructure than addressing their own needs.
The Allocation of €365 Million
The EIB’s announced operation includes €300 million earmarked for Morocco’s highway network and another €65 million linked to the railway system, with €15 million provided through a community grant for climate adaptation initiatives. The bank justifies these projects by arguing that they will enhance mobility, safety, and economic connections between Europe and Africa, portraying Morocco as a strategic partner in its investment policy.
Nonetheless, VOX does not entirely oppose cooperation with Morocco; rather, their critique is focused on the absence of clear priorities, verifiable conditions, and reciprocal benefits for Spain. Mireia Borrás, another MEP, presented a stark comparison during the parliamentary session: Spain has a rail maintenance deficit exceeding €13 billion, with ongoing incidents, delays, and conservation issues across various corridors. This reality raises significant questions about the justification for any European investment in Morocco's railway system when Spanish users face recurrent breakdowns and a deteriorating infrastructure.
The amendment aimed to officially document this contradiction within the European Parliament, yet the obstruction prevented it from being reflected in the report. Since 1979, Morocco has not been a sporadic beneficiary of EIB support; the bank has mobilized over €12 billion for projects in water, energy, transportation, education, healthcare, and business development in the North African country. Moreover, the EIB plans to mobilize an additional €700 million during 2026, underscoring the depth of financial relations that surpass the contested railway operation.
The underlying issue raised by Patriotas is not merely about the funding Morocco receives but rather the concrete commitments Europe secures in return. Article 309 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union mandates the EIB to contribute to the balanced development of the internal market, yet the bank operates beyond the community territory through EIB Global, its division dedicated to international cooperation and development financing.
In 2025, the group secured €100 billion in new financing for over 870 projects, much of which aligns with the EU's external objectives. VOX proposes a different hierarchy: before expanding the Moroccan network, Europe should ensure the security and modernization of its own infrastructures. This initiative by Patriotas por Europa may not have altered the report, but it did compel socialists and proponents of the operation to confront a significant question: what should the bank prioritize in financing?
Buxadé has leveraged this episode as part of a broader critique regarding the Sánchez government's relationship with Rabat, demanding transparency, reciprocity, and political explanations, despite lacking evidence of any hidden interests. The contrast is stark: as the EIB strengthens its presence in Morocco, VOX insists that Spanish railway safety should no longer take a backseat to Brussels' priorities.
As reported by negocios.com.
