Morocco’s unparalleled immigration efforts should show its commitment to seeking solutions from a global, multidimensional, multicultural and strategic perspective, writes European bimonthly “The Parliament Magazine”.
In an article titled “Migration Requires Commitment and Compassion”, the magazine highlights Morocco’s “unequivocal support”, under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, for efforts to address migration issues, including quick repatriation of unaccompanied minors.
Recalling that the persistent problem of immigration from North Africa to Europe is often a tragic story, it said that Morocco continued working unilaterally and in partnership with the EU to find solutions.
Faced with these human tragedies, Colin Mackay, author of the article, explained that cooperation mechanisms have been put in place with a number of countries – in particular in the southern EU states of Spain and France – to facilitate the repatriation of unaccompanied Moroccan minors.
“HM the King had underlined the clear and firm commitment of the Kingdom of Morocco to accept the return of duly identified unaccompanied minors”, he noted, citing to this effect the press release from the Ministries of the Interior and Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad.
However, despite this unequivocal commitment from the Sovereign, “there have been repeated delays for the mechanisms to work efficiently and in a timely manner”, he said, citing a number of implementation problems linked to the highly bureaucratic nature of administrative and judicial procedures in some of the European countries concerned.
However, he went on, Morocco would also like to stress that EU countries should not use this question to cover up their own problems, and especially Spain which tries to use this question to divert attention from its own national political crisis.
He noted that the Moroccan authorities will respond appropriately to the Spanish government’s unfounded accusations at the right time.
According to the article’s author, Morocco has worked tirelessly to neutralize numerous cross-border threats, notably terrorism, jihadists and foreign fighters, as well as drug and arm trafficking and smuggling.
“In addition, in the important area of migration control, Morocco’s contribution to regional security has been impressive,” he said, recalling that the Moroccan authorities have foiled more than 14,000 attempts at illegal migration to Europe and rescued some 36,000 migrants in the Strait of Gibraltar.
Morocco has also dismantled 8,000 human trafficking cells and exchanged more than 9,000 information with Spain on illegal migration activities, he noted.
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