15 December 2018

EU reinforces support to Morocco to address irregular migration

After the visit of Spanish President, Pedro Sanchez, to Morocco, the European Union has reinforced its support to Morocco to address irregular migration by bringing the total amount mobilized in 2018 under the EU emergency Trust Fund for Africa to € 148 million. “The additional funding adopted under the EU emergency Trust Fund for Africa will bring the overall migration-related assistance to Morocco to €148 million in 2018,” according to the European Commission’s press release. The new funding, which is part of the EU’s “continuous support” for Morocco’s National Strategy on Migration and Asylum, “helps step up the fight against migrant smuggling and trafficking of human beings, while improving the Moroccan authorities’ capacity to manage their borders,” notes the Commission, adding that the EU is intensifying its support to the kingdom to address irregular migration “in response to increased migratory pressure along the Western Mediterranean Route”. However, the cooperation, said EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, goes far beyond migration, “we are working to strengthen our partnership via socio-economic development, decentralisation and integration of the youth”. Since 2014, the EU has committed €232 million channelled through different funds and instruments to support migration-related actions in Morocco.

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