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Morocco and Spain will be granted 140 million euros by the European Commission to manage the migration crisis affecting the two countries, reported El Pais on Monday quoting the European Union institution.
To manage its borders, the Moroccan government will receive 70 million euros in the short term. Meanwhile, 40 million euros will be given to the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), a public sector foundation managed by the Spanish State.
The European Commission is offering the rest (30 million euros) to the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), an organization with 17 Member States, sources from the Spanish government told El Pais.
In addition to the 70 million euros, the European Commission announced that it will be granting Rabat a yearly aid, that accounts for 50 million euros. According to the same source the European Commission’s fund will be handed over to the Moroccan government in 2019 and will be mainly used to purchase border surveillance equipment.
The EC finally honors its promises
The news was well received by officials in Rabat who, according to El Pais journalist Francisco Peregil, have reiterated their satisfaction with the EC’s decision.
The agreement, linked to the new grant, will be finalized Thursday, 25th of October, in Rabat, indicates the same source. Indeed, a co-delegation from Spain and the EU body will visit Morocco to negotiate the last details of the treaty.
Since summer, Morocco and Spain have been working together to convince the European Union into financially helping the two countries deal with migration flow in the region.
Spanish officials have even been putting pressure on the European Union to tackle the issue especially that the number of migrants reaching Spain through Morocco grew significantly.
In August, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez sent a letter to the European Commission’s president Jean-Claude Juncker, urging him to provide emergency assistance to tackle the surge in migrant arrivals.
Responding to his letter Juncker said that the EU is unable to help Morocco manage its borders, citing the political and economic union’s limited funds. The head of the European Commission, however, promised that Morocco will be considered when grants dedicated to the fund grow.
