Migration : Morocco to get part of the €140 million granted by the EU in the coming months

Morocco is expected to get another part of the €140 million granted to its government by the European Union to address irregular migration in response to increased migratory pressure along the Western Mediterranean Route. The decision was announced by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security, Federica Mogherini, who is currently visiting Morocco.

In a press briefing held, Wednesday, in Rabat and co-chaired by Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita, the Italian diplomat promised that the Kingdom will «receive €110 millions in the coming months». According to EFE and the Spanish version of Deutsche Welle, Saadeddine El Othmani’s government has already been granted €30 million by the European Union.

Federica Mogherini made it clear that this financial aid is not supposed to make Morocco «play a watchdog role», but it is intended to help the country «further boost its migration policy launched in 2013».

The difference between Mogherini and Hahn’s announcement

Earlier in January, the Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Johannes Hahn said that Morocco was granted €70 million by the European Union.

The Austrian politician responded to the Spain's secretary of state for migration Consuelo Rumí’s anger who blamed Brussels for delaying the €140 million committed by the EU to Morocco in migration-related assistance. Rumi announced that she would fly to Brussels to enquire about the money the European Union is granting Morocco.

In a letter sent to the Spanish senior official, Hahn explained that «there was no delay» and that the European Union «has taken the necessary steps to deliver the assistance on time».

He recalled that €70 million were given to El Othmani’s government to manage the country’s borders and that «€30 million of this sum were granted directly to Morocco on December the 20th».

The rest was handed down to the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (based in Madrid) on December the 13th. The association is leading projects related to borders managing.