The city of Sebta aims to change its economic model to move towards Europe. With the disappearance of the smuggling trade with Morocco, the inhabitants want to join the European Customs Union but without losing their tax advantages.
For a long time, its inhabitants benefited from a regime bordering on that of the free zones with a net reduction in tax for the importation of goods and on income. This allowed the smuggling trade, once tolerated, reports L’Économiste .
In view of the reopening, the inhabitants are looking for an economic alternative, hence the idea of integrating the European Customs Union, to get out of the economic pressure and the suffocation imposed by Morocco.
For them, there would be more gains than losses from this integration. It is also support for their character as Spanish and European citizens in the face of Morocco’s legitimate claims to its sovereignty over this former enclave.
However, this project will come up against the opposition of the kingdom but also the caution of Spain, which has no interest in further upsetting its neighbor, underlines the newspaper.
