Spain Allocates €2.5 Million to Morocco for Migration Control

Doha – Spain has allocated €2.5 million to Morocco for border surveillance equipment and vehicles, as the country faces unprecedented migration pressures with over 63,970 irregular arrivals in 2024, marking a 12.5% increase from the previous year.

The funding, distributed through the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), chaired by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, will provide Morocco with 183 motorcycles worth €660,000 and 33 vehicles totaling €1.9 million.

The equipment aims to enhance mobility and response capabilities of Moroccan security forces in difficult-to-access mountainous and coastal areas.

The contract includes the delivery of all-terrain vehicles, trucks, ambulances, boats, and advanced surveillance equipment such as thermal cameras and night vision devices. Technical training for maintenance personnel is also included to ensure proper operation of the vehicles.

This latest allocation is part of a broader €120 million support package implemented during Pedro Sánchez’s government. Since 2019, Spain has channeled tens of millions of euros to Rabat to support its fight against irregular migration.

The European Union has contributed over €360 million since 2013, including €234 million from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, according to a February 2022 EU document.

Migration patterns and statistics

The Canary Islands have emerged as the primary entry point, receiving 46,843 arrivals in 2024, a 17% increase from 2023. Mali leads origin countries with 11,155 arrivals, followed by Senegal with 5,866, while Morocco ranks fourth with 2,807 migrants.

Contrasting regional patterns show Melilla experiencing its lowest migration figures since the 1990s, with only 113 arrivals in 2024, down from 340 in 2023. Maritime arrivals to Melilla dropped by 88.3%, while land-based entries decreased by 42.5%.

The humanitarian toll has been severe, with over 10,400 migrants losing their lives or disappearing at sea while attempting to reach Spain in 2024, according to Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras – a 58% increase from 6,618 deaths in 2023.

Moroccan cooperation and results

By November 2024, Morocco’s Ministry of Interior reported that authorities had prevented 48,963 irregular migration attempts and dismantled 210 criminal networks involved in human trafficking. In August alone, Moroccan authorities prevented 14,648 migrants from illegally entering Ceuta and Melilla.

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles characterized Morocco’s cooperation as “total and absolute,” while Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares praised the country’s efforts in addressing mass migration attempts.

Political tensions and policy response

The migration crisis has sparked intense debate within Spain. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government implemented reforms in mid-November to facilitate the regularization of undocumented migrants, potentially benefiting up to 300,000 migrants annually over the next three years.

“2024 has been a demanding year, but also transformative,” stated Elma Saiz, Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, regarding the new regulatory framework.

The situation has become particularly contentious regarding unaccompanied minors in the Canary Islands, where local authorities report having 4,000 to 5,000 under their care. Fernando Clavijo, president of the Canary Islands government, has repeatedly stated feeling “abandoned” by the central government.

The crisis prompted King Felipe VI to address the issue in his Christmas message, warning that “migrations can lead – without appropriate management – to tensions that erode social cohesion.”

Francisco Navarro, head of Accem Canarias, emphasized the need to view this as a structural rather than temporary situation, suggesting continued migration pressures from Africa and Asia due to ongoing conflicts and poverty.