Spanish Official Says Moroccan Collaboration on Migration Is ‘Real’

Rabat – Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande Marlaska has said he appreciates the “real” cooperation between both Morocco and Spain to tackle the migration crisis.

He told the Spanish press that the cooperation has reduced the number of undocumented entering the Spanish enclaves over the border fence.

“Now we have more forces, we train them, we give them means and protection and we do investigation work against mafias” involved in human trafficking.

The Spanish minister condemned human trafficking, emphasizing that “mafias” put the lives of migrants in danger, and they suffer inhumane conditions.

Marlaska’s statement comes after remarks from his prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, who lauded Morocco’s efforts in reducing the number of undocumented migrants.

Sanchez said on November 4 that Spain “managed to reduce by more than 50% the number of illegal migrants arriving on our shoes through cooperation with our partners, especially with Morocco.”

He explained Spain advocates for a “humanitarian approach, dialogue, and cooperation with counties of origin and transit like Morocco” to tackle migration flows.

The Spanish Interior Ministry said that the country reduced the “arrivals of undocumented migrants arriving by sea in Spain between January 1 and October 30 by more than 53% compared to a year earlier.”

A total of 22,247 irregular migrants reached Spain by the sea in makeshift boats as of October 30, down from 47,684 migrants during the same period in 2018, the ministry added.

About 1,030 boats arrived on the Spanish coast from January to October of 2019, compared to 1,775 boats during the same period last year. The difference constitutes a 42% decrease.

The fight against irregular migration is not the only field in which Madrid and Rabat cooperate; both countries also share trade and security collaboration.

In September, Marlaska reiterated Spain’s determination to strengthen diplomatic relations with Morocco during a visit to Morocco.