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Spain has renewed today its acknowledgment of Morocco’s “far-reaching efforts” to tackle irregular migration.
Spanish officials commended Morocco’s efforts during the high-level meeting in Rabat hosted by the Moroccan-Spanish permanent mixed migration group.
The meeting is part of Spain-Morocco commitment to implement a roadmap discussed during a recent Rabat meeting between King Mohammed VI and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
The meeting marked the end of a lingering diplomatic crisis between Morocco and Spain. The Spanish decision to allow the leader of the Polisario separatists to visit Spain in April 2021 triggered the tension between Rabat and Madrid.
Amid flaring tension, Spanish press and members of political parties launched a media campaign against the North African country, questioning its efforts against organized crime and irregular migration networks.
However, Spain’s decision to endorse Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible solution to end the dispute over Western Sahara mended bilateral relations.
During today’s meeting, the Spanish officials expressed thanks to Moroccan authorities for the “far-reaching efforts” against irregular migration, citing “tangible results.”
Spain and Morocco have renewed their determination to strengthen coordination and information exchange mechanisms through updating working methods at the level of police cooperation, liaison officers, and mixed patrols.
The Moroccan and Spanish migratory groups recalled in a joint statement that they both attach “particular importance to the increased possibilities of financial support for Morocco in the new multi-annual financial framework of the European Union.”
Spain, an EU member state, renewed its determination to continue to outline Morocco’s role as a “strategic partner” of the EU at all levels, including migration.
The group also discussed the issue of unaccompanied minors, who entered Spain and the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla irregularly.
Moroccan authorities recalled King Mohammed VI’s instructions for the repatriation of “all duly identified Moroccan minors.”
The joint press release added that the two parties have also agreed to put in place an approach that will help minors through prevention and protection.
“Morocco and Spain are committed to strengthening dialogue and close coordination” with regard to regional cooperation on migration, the joint communique added.
Khalid Zerouali, the governing director of migration and border surveillance at Morocco’s Interior Ministry of Interior chaired the meeting alongside Jesus Perea Cortijo, Spain’s Secretary of State for Migration.
Rafael Perez Ruiz, Secretary of State for Security, and Angeles Moreno Bau, Secretary of State for External and Global Affairs also attended the meeting.
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