Agadir – Morocco represents an “indispensable partner” in developing a sustainable European response to irregular migration in the Mediterranean, Brazilian geopolitician Marcus Vinicius De Freitas said.
In a statement to Morocco’s state news agency MAP, De Freitas described Morocco as “absolutely essential” to the control and management of migratory flows in the Mediterranean, stressing the country’s strategic position as a link between the two shores.
The Brazilian expert pointed to Morocco’s efforts to combat irregular migration, including its monitoring of migratory movements and operational cooperation with Spain.
He argued that a sustainable European migration policy in the Western Mediterranean cannot be achieved without a strong partnership with Morocco.
However, De Freitas cautioned against addressing migration exclusively through security and border controls, describing irregular migration as a transnational phenomenon requiring sustained coordination between countries of origin, transit, and destination.
“It would also be wrong to imagine that Morocco can assume this responsibility alone or that the migratory phenomenon can be resolved by simply strengthening border controls,” he said.
According to the geopolitician, managing migration flows requires a shared effort involving all countries concerned, as stricter border controls alone cannot address the factors driving people to migrate.
“The real answer to irregular migration is not just about making borders more controlled and harder to cross, but also about helping to ensure that these migratory flows cease to represent the only alternative for these migrants,” De Freitas said.
He called on European countries to place development more firmly at the center of their migration policies by supporting economic opportunities and development across Africa and in countries of origin.
De Freitas further argued that security and development should form part of a single strategy, with Morocco positioned to play a central role given its location at the crossroads of Europe, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and Africa.
In this context, he said Morocco could become a key player in a new framework for Euro-African cooperation to address migration through security coordination and long-term development.
