Rabat – Following meetings held with presidents of Melilla and Ceuta, Spain’s Pedro Sanchez announced his country’s intention to strengthen and modernize the border with Morocco to combat irregular migration, reported Spanish news agency EFE.
The Spanish news outlet reported that Sanchez announced his country’s intention to implement “complementary security measures,” including increasing human resources.
Quoting a statement from the government office, EFE added that a specific plan will be also implemented to the strengthen controls preventing money laundering.
Read Also: Sanchez: Spain-Morocco-Portugal World Cup Bid, a Bid Between 2 Continents
The news outlet reported that the Spanish government has approved a €40 million budget for the communities and the Spanish enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta. Part of the budget will be allocated to care for unaccompanied foreign minors received in 2018.
On November 19, Sanchez visited Morocco, where he met with King Mohammed VI, Morocco’s Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani and other Moroccan officials.
The visit was his first official trip since he became prime minister in June.
Sanchez told the press that he visited Morocco because of the “historical ties” and the “strategic bilateral relations” that both countries enjoy.
Sanchez has also been the voice of Morocco at the European Union, where he shared the Spanish and Moroccan concerns over the flow of undocumented migration.
In October, Sanchez spoke about Morocco’s role in controlling migration on the Moroccan-Spanish border. He called Morocco a “strategic actor” for Spain in migration policy during the Summit of the European Heads of State and Government, which took place on October 17-18 in Brussels.
