The project for a tunnel across the Strait of Gibraltar, a long-cherished aspiration for over forty years, looks set to be revived. With an injection of 2.3 million euros in European funds, Spain is planning to reactivate the preliminary design for this crucial fixed link, marking a new stage in the history of this project of geostrategic importance, reports the same source.
The funding comes from the European Union’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), reinforcing the EU’s commitment to this project, which aims to create a physical link between Africa and Europe.
Although the project was first mooted in 1979, it was in February of this year, at the High-Level Meeting in Rabat, that Spain and Morocco reaffirmed their shared interest in building this fixed link. A strong political signal, underlining the will of both nations to promote a closer and stronger connection.
The proposed
tunnel would pass under the Strait of Gibraltar, linking the continents of Africa and Europe. The project has long been regarded as technically challenging and costly, but the recent allocation of funds and strong support from the Spanish and Moroccan governments suggest a new determination to overcome these challenges.
Spain, drawing on funding received under the PRTR, is stepping up efforts to relaunch studies and explore the viability of the project. The work of Secegsa, the Spanish public company in charge of the project, will focus primarily on the possibility of building a transport channel for telecommunications and energy.
This recent breakthrough has also been hailed as an important step in the history of this major project, dating back to the signing of a joint declaration of intent in 1980 by the late leaders Hassan II and Juan Carlos I. This new phase aims to give the project a boost, and the two countries have agreed to draw up a work plan for the next three years, including an analysis of the feasibility of building a reconnaissance gallery.
EU funding and the active support of both governments suggest that the project for a tunnel under the Strait of Gibraltar could finally become a reality, strengthening links between Africa and Europe and opening up new prospects for economic and human connectivity.
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