The recent rapprochement between Spain and Morocco, driven by the government of Pedro Sánchez, has yielded tangible outcomes. Among them is a noticeable decline in migrants arriving via routes from Morocco. Beyond this, the two nations laid out a clear roadmap covering key issues such as the opening of customs controls in Ceuta and Melilla and the delineation of maritime zones between the Canary Islands and Moroccan waters.
In this broader context, a high-profile initiative emerged in Madrid at Casa Árabe, where representatives from both diplomatic and academic circles described a landmark program at a presentation led by Rachid El Hour, a respected professor of Arab and Islamic Studies. The program aims to advance research, host seminars, and foster exchanges that strengthen ties between the two countries.
Diplomatic observers note that the creation of a formal chair and related scholarly activities is a concrete byproduct of the recent High-Level Meeting held in Rabat. They view it as evidence of the sustained, multi-faceted collaboration that has developed since that encounter, signaling a shift toward deeper cooperation that goes beyond headlines to tangible academic and cultural partnerships.
Moroccan ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, emphasizes the importance of education as a bridge for younger generations, arguing that investment in learning helps defuse misunderstandings. She points to the opening of a new stage in relations that offers strategic depth and multidimensional goodwill. A Spanish diplomat, Alberto Ucelay, Director General of the Maghreb, the Mediterranean, and the Near East, Underlines that Spain and Morocco share a common border, a shared historical memory, and mutual interests that motivate ongoing dialogue and collaboration. The two governments are portrayed as moving in the right direction, united by a long-standing friendship and a shared vision for regional stability and prosperity.
The tone at the presentation contrasts with earlier diplomatic tensions. In 2021 Rabat summoned the Moroccan ambassador to Madrid for consultations and briefly withheld the post in protest of Spain’s stance on the Polisario Front leader. That episode centered on sovereignty claims in the Western Sahara region and Spain’s historical decisions related to the Madrid Accords of 1975. Current discussions, however, focus on building trust and forging practical mechanisms that support bilateral cooperation across security, trade, immigration, science, and education.
Improvements to student visas
Spain and Morocco signed a series of accords this year to advance cooperation in several areas, including security, trade, immigration, science, and higher education. While the details of the memorandum remain confidential, officials on both sides described a targeted framework for university collaboration that envisions a new Moroccan chair at a prominent Spanish university and underscores the intent to expand student exchanges. The agreement emphasizes stronger university collaboration as a core pillar of the bilateral relationship.
In their joint statements, Morocco and Spain committed to strengthening student mobility and streamlining administrative procedures to facilitate Moroccan students studying in Spain. Rabat has previously highlighted challenges in securing visas that enable its youth to pursue higher education in Spanish institutions. The discussions aim to accelerate visa processing where possible and to consider longer validity of permits to accommodate meaningful study experiences, with estimates suggesting several thousand Moroccan students could benefit annually. The overarching goal is to remove unnecessary barriers while maintaining rigorous standards for educational exchanges and mutual recognition of degrees.