“We are neither Europe’s policeman nor its caretaker. We are a sovereign partner, not a subcontractor,” regarding migration management, a Moroccan government source said Monday in Rabat, while questioning if the current framework is still suited to the new context.
The source called it “disappointing to see the events in Sebta (Ceuta) exploited for electoral gain and political score-settling,” adding that “at the height of the crisis, amid sensationalist and alarmist media coverage, we heard the most hateful comments and outrageous rhetoric.”
“We saw just how far some political figures fell short of the historical moment, and how disappointing their reaction was,” the source lamented.
The government source expressed deep shock not only at the total lack of vision, but also at the severe strategic short-sightedness of some and the political opportunism of others.
Having witnessed a lack of rigor, a failure to look at the broader partnership, and an absence of the will to make proper distinctions, ” we’ve reached a clear conclusion: the rules of engagement must change!” the source insisted, stressing that it must be clear to everyone that “Morocco protects its own territory, but no one does it on its behalf.”
“Everyone must shoulder their responsibilities. Morocco is neither Europe’s policeman nor its caretaker. We operate as a reliable and committed partner as part of a genuine partnership, which can’t be one-sided,” the source emphasized, underscoring the need to update the rules governing that partnership.
According to the same source, there’s a need to reinvigorate political will, restore clarity and predictability at the heart of the framework, rebuild trust and accountability, and redefine the rules of engagement.
One shouldn’t assume that simply injecting funds will make everything work as if by magic,” the source said, adding that financial support has never been the driving force behind Morocco’s actions
“Morocco has consistently maintained that there is no exclusively security-based solution to the migration issue,” the source continued, noting that this principle has once again proved true, as everyone witnessed a voluntary return movement that was just as significant as the movement toward Sebta.
According to the source, that return is revealing: His Majesty King Mohammed VI has heavily invested in the socio-economic development of Morocco and its northern provinces.
“These young people returned after seeing firsthand that the situation in Morocco was better than the imagined El Dorado they’d envisioned.”
“Their return was therefore voluntary. Even Spain acknowledges that 95% of those who entered have already left Sebta.” The source noted that they chose to leave based on their own observations rather than any action taken by Spain.
The government source argued that this fosters Morocco’s development trajectory and boosts the relevance of the strategic choices made under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, noting that the Sovereign’s initiatives in the northern provinces have driven unprecedented economic and social development, creating more than 430,000 jobs.
“El Dorado is a myth that our young people have teared down for themselves by returning willingly. The best response to illegal migration is development,” the source said.
The government source concluded by saying that Europe should be a partner interested in Morocco’s development and should stop taking measures that hinder that development, including policies affecting Moroccan ports, the country’s automotive industry, and its finance, services, transport, and offshoring sectors.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.