Migration Management: Morocco Establishes itself as Reliable, Indispensable Partner for Spain

On Jun 24, 2023

epa04447577 Sub-Saharan migrants try to climb up a border fence in another mass attempt to jump into Melilla, the Spanish exclave in northern Africa, 15 October 2014. About 200 immigrants tried to reach Melilla, the second such attempt in the past 24 hours. EPA/F.G. GUERRERO

The Spanish government has expressed recognition and gratitude to Morocco for its excellent, effective, and cooperative efforts in the battle against irregular immigration, which have shown noticeable improvements at all levels.

Spain has consistently praised Morocco for its firm commitment and persistent efforts in the fight against networks involved in illegal immigration and human trafficking. Spain is aware of the crucial role played by Morocco as a transit country and its humanistic, holistic, and multidimensional approach to the migration issue.

The Kingdom’s credibility and its effective, efficient contribution to the consolidation of security and peace in the Mediterranean region have been confirmed by Morocco’s efforts, which were carried out in an atmosphere of shared responsibility and trust and yielded notable results.

Madrid has consistently supported Morocco as a trustworthy, dedicated, and responsible partner, even in the most challenging situations, highlighting the fact that the Kingdom is also a victim of unauthorized immigration and fully accepts its obligations in obeying laws and regulations to combat human trafficking mafias.

The president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sanchez, stated that some people “sometimes seem to think that countries like Morocco do not suffer from illegal immigration, but this does not correspond to reality.” This statement was made shortly after the violent, premeditated, and planned assault on migrants in Nador on June 24, 2022, which resulted in the injuries of dozens of Moroccan law enforcement officers and was conducted by migrants trying to force passage to Melilia. Moroccan law enforcement officers responded professionally to the attack, which was unprecedented and involved the use of extreme violence.

“We must recognize the efforts made by Morocco, which is also under pressure from irregular migration,” stressed Sanchez, adding that “the real culprits behind the violent assault by sub-Saharan migrants on the metal fence separating the towns of Nador and Melilia are the mafias.”

In this sense, he specified that “what happened at the fence (…) was a violent attack carried out by armed migrants,” calling for showing “empathy towards the Spanish security forces and the Moroccan public forces, who suffered a violent attack that left hundreds of law enforcement officers injured.”

Spain has repeatedly urged European nations to stand in solidarity with Morocco in its fight against human trafficking networks that employ cutting-edge, extremely violent operating methods and are willing to take any risk in the face of an increasingly complex phenomenon that puts the conventional mechanisms for combating human trafficking to the test on a daily basis.

The ongoing partnership between Spain and Morocco based on trust and shared responsibility in the fight against illegal immigration is “absolutely close, firm, and real, which can only generate tranquillity,” said Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska recently.

“We are working day after day with the Moroccan government to prevent and dismantle the organizations that traffic in human beings,” the Spanish official added, hailing the “permanent contact and coordination” between Rabat and Madrid.

“We are working together on an ongoing basis to prevent and combat the phenomenon of migration”, he said, adding that Morocco is “a loyal and fraternal partner, with which Spain enjoys excellent relations.”

Morocco and Spain consistently reaffirm their unwavering determination to act firmly and relentlessly against illegal migrant networks in accordance with the laws in effect and international law. They are cognizant of the new challenges of the international context, the dangers posed by networks of human smugglers and traffickers, and the maturity of their multifaceted cooperation.