Rabat – Spain’s Council of Ministers on Tuesday approved a grant of €30 million to Morocco in a bid to support the North African country’s efforts against human trafficking networks and irregular migration into Europe.
Spanish news outlet La Vanguardia quoted ministerial sources describing the new grant as a new gesture towards Spain’s “loyal partner.”
The Spanish news outlet said that the new grant is the fourth of its kind since Pedro Sanchez became Spain’s prime minister in 2018.
In 2019, Morocco received €32 million from Spain in addition to another €31 million in 2020 and €30 million in May 2021.
Important security cooperation
Earlier this month, Spain’s Minister of Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska said that the financial aid directed to Morocco reflects the importance of security cooperation between the two countries.
He added that Spanish authorities remain convinced of Morocco’s fundamental role in better addressing irregular migration challenges.
On Tuesday, the Spanish minister renewed the same statement, welcoming the cooperative relationship between Morocco and Spain.
“We are working day after day with the Moroccan government to prevent and dismantle the organizations that practice human trafficking,” he said.
Irregular migration roadmap
In April, Morocco and Spain published a new roadmap, outlining the importance of cooperation to tackle irregular migration as part of their shared responsibility.
The joint declaration came during Sanchez’s visit to Morocco in April when he met with King Mohammed VI.
Morocco’s efforts to combat irregular migration helped the North African country to seize 67 inflatable boats in addition to 65 vehicles used for displacing people for irregular migration in 2021.
Since 2017, the North African country has prevented over 14,000 Spain-bound migration attempts. Morocco also dismantled over 5,000 human trafficking and irregular migration networks during the same period.
