A Moroccan government source lays out demands for a reset in migration cooperation with Europe Morocco has never been anyone’s subordinate in the fight against irregular migration — that was the blunt message from a government source in Rabat on Monday, who described the Kingdom as a “sovereign, loyal and responsible” partner that has always carried its share of what is, ultimately, a shared responsibility.
“Morocco has never done anything under pressure, nor acted out of obligation or under the threat of blackmail”, the source said, adding that commitment and responsibility have always been what drives the country’s actions — not outside pressure.
Migration, the source went on, is a complicated business, one where everyone has to own their part of it. “We fully assume ours”, they said — and pointed to results that speak for themselves, even if, as they put it, those results are sometimes taken for granted, with little thought given to how hard-won they actually are.
Then came the sharpest line of the conversation: “We are neither Europe’s policeman nor its concierge; we are a sovereign partner, not a subcontractor”. It was less a complaint than a challenge — a question, really, about whether the way migration is managed today still makes sense in a changed world.
The source didn’t hide their frustration with how the events at Sebta had been handled in the public conversation, lamenting that they’d become fodder for electoral point-scoring and political score-settling. “While the crisis was at its peak, under the weight of sensationalist, alarmist media coverage, we heard the most hateful comments and the wildest analyses”, they said.
“We saw how far short some political actors fell of this historic moment, and how disappointing their reactions were”, the source added, saying they were struck not just by a lack of vision among some, but by real strategic short-sightedness — and by others simply using the moment for political gain.
Taken together, the source said, this lack of rigor, this absence of any real reflection on what the partnership means, has led to one clear conclusion: the rules of engagement need to change.
The message, they insisted, has to be understood by everyone: Morocco protects its own territory — but no one does that job for it. “Everyone has to assume their responsibilities”, the source said, adding that it’s time to update how the partnership actually works.
What comes next, in their view, is straightforward enough to list: political will needs to be remobilized, clarity and predictability need to return to the heart of the system, trust and responsibility need to be rebuilt, and the rules of engagement need to be reframed from the ground up.
- Source: MAP