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Morocco could sign an agreement with the European Union to combat irregular immigration, according to a European media report. The announcement was made on Tuesday, November 5, at the European Parliament by Dubravka Šuica, a candidate for the position of European Commission Commissioner for the Mediterranean, a newly created role in the organization.
«We have good relations with Morocco», she said, adding before the MEPs examining her candidacy that the kingdom «can help us, and we can help it». Šuica's comments came a month after the European Court of Justice (CJEU) ruled on October 4, excluding Western Sahara from the agricultural and fisheries agreements signed between Morocco and the EU in 2019.
Morocco open to improved cooperation
It is worth mentioning that the EU has already concluded partnerships in the fight against irregular immigration with Tunisia and Egypt, in June 2023 and March 2024 respectively, in exchange for financial aid: €900 million for Tunisia and €7.4 billion for Egypt.
These agreements, which have been criticized by human rights NGOs, require «a full commitment on the part» of both countries to control irregular immigration, including reinforced border security, combating human trafficking, and facilitating the return of migrants.
Morocco has consistently expressed its willingness to readmit its nationals who are irregularly present in Europe. This position was reaffirmed by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in an interview with French media last week. «Today, we are working to speed up the issuance of laissez-passer in coordination with the French authorities, to ensure rapid identification and facilitate the return of irregular migrants. In line with instructions from senior Moroccan authorities, consulates have been directed to cooperate closely with police prefectures to optimize this process».
However, the Kingdom has so far rejected all offers to host irregular migrants of other nationalities who have passed through its territory to reach Europe. «Morocco is generally opposed to any form of detention centers for migrants. This is part of our migration policy and a position based on national sovereignty», the foreign minister asserted in October 2018 to a German media outlet. Bourita reiterated this stance in June 2018, following talks with former Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell in Rabat.
