Moroccan asylum seekers face growing backlogs in EU decisions

Moroccan asylum seekers are facing growing backlogs in decisions across Europe, with their applications often processed more slowly than those from countries considered to have greater protection needs.

One reason is that the European Union considers Morocco a “safe country of origin,” meaning that its citizens are generally not viewed as needing international protection. This classification tends to lead to faster rejection or accelerated examination of asylum claims.

According to a report by the European Union Agency for Asylum, more than 21,000 Moroccan citizens applied for asylum across EU countries in 2025, including 19,645 new applications filed during the year.

However, approval rates remain extremely low. Only about 4% of Moroccan asylum applications were accepted by EU countries. Most applications were submitted in Italy, Spain and Slovenia.

At the same time, migration numbers from Morocco to Europe fell significantly in 2025. The report says stronger coordination between Rabat and Madrid is a key reason behind the drop.

According to the findings, Morocco and Spain stepped up joint operations on border management and maritime surveillance throughout the year.

The closer cooperation helped reduce irregular migration along the Western African route, one of the main paths used by migrants trying to reach Europe.

Authorities recorded a sharp 63% drop in detections along this route in 2025. Departures from Morocco alone fell by 17%, showing a clear slowdown compared with previous years.

Meanwhile, the report said that departures increased from neighboring Algeria, showing that migration pressure shifted elsewhere in the region.

The coordination between Morocco and Spain forms part of the broader migration strategy adopted by the European Union in 2025.

The plan focuses on stronger partnerships with countries where migrants originate or transit through, with the aim of controlling mixed migration flows, reducing irregular crossings, and tackling the root causes that push people to leave.

The European Commission has even proposed including Morocco on a formal EU-wide list of safe countries of origin.

The proposal, published in 2025, also includes Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo and Tunisia. Together, nationals from these countries accounted for about 16% of all asylum applications in the EU in 2025.

Another change is coming soon under the EU’s new migration pact. Starting in June 2026, some asylum seekers from countries with very low approval rates could face mandatory border procedures.

These fast-track checks would allow EU authorities to quickly decide if applications are unfounded or inadmissible before migrants are allowed to enter EU territory.