Irregular Migration: Spain to Grant Morocco €30 Million

Rabat – Spain will offer Morocco aid worth €30 million (MAD 321 million) in a bid to help the North African country’s battle against human trafficking and irregular migration.

“Within the framework of bilateral relations between the two countries, Moroccan-Spanish cooperation is being strengthened to combat the illegal migration phenomenon,” Spanish news outlet La Razon reported.

Spain’s Minister of Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska commented on the Spanish financial aid, emphasizing the importance of security cooperation between the two countries.

Spanish authorities remain convinced of “the fundamental role that Morocco plays to better combat” the irregular migration challenges, the Spanish official said.

In April, Spain and Morocco issued a joint declaration in which the two countries reiterated their determination to continue improving cooperation against irregular migration.

The joint declaration came during Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s visit to Morocco, where he met with King Mohammed VI.

“Cooperation in the area of migration will be reactivated and strengthened,” the declaration read.

Morocco’s national police seized 742 forged travel documents, 67 inflatable boats, in addition to 65 vehicles used for displacing people for irregular migration in 2021, a report from the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) said.

The DGSN report also indicated a decline in violent crime over the past six years, noting that they did not exceed 4% of all crimes, with close to 46,000 violent cases recorded.

The operations enabled police to send 31,188 people to court, representing a 15% increase in arrested suspects, the DGSN acknowledged.

In addition to helping crack down on irregular migration through the Mediterranean, Moroccan authorities help Spain secure the Ceuta and Melilla borders, which are popular migration spots for those hoping to make it into Europe.