For over 20 years now there have been talks of creating the first land link between Africa and Spain in millions of years, with the creation of a 39-Km tunnel under the Mediterranean between Punta Paloma in Andalucía and Punta Malabata north of Tangier. There have been considerable political implications as well as construction problems, and for a wide variety of reasons the project has reared its head and disappeared on a great many occasions during this period.

Both Morocco and Spain are both keen to get this major construction project completed, and 2006 saw major advances towards making the project a reality. The governments commissioned a 33 million Euro study in September 2006 to determine the feasibility of the current plans and to provide the necessary technical details to take the project further.

Initial results have shown that the tunnel will need to be bored to a depth of 400M, and will comprise of two rail tunnels, linked by a central service tunnel. Spain has also commenced the construction of a tunnel in a test site, which is over 500 metres long, which is allowing detailed studies to be completed on the rock structure. The full results of the study due to be announced in early 2007.

There have been various estimates as to when the project will realistically commence, and most importantly be completed. Assuming that there are no major technical problems unearthed by the new study, construction can begin as early as 2008, with completion possible by 2010, coinciding nicely with the planned completion date of Vision 2010, the tourist development strategy of King Mohammed VI.

Whilst Spain has had a turbulent history with Morocco in the past, the Prime Minister of Spain, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has formed a strong alliance with Morocco with a recent co-operation agreement being made with Spain providing 476 Million euros of investment into projects with the Moroccan government. Whilst Both Spain and Morocco will be footing a significant amount of the bill for the construction of the tunnel, it is expected that the EU will be providing significant funding towards the project.