A conference on ‘Migration in the Mediterranean: Why the EU needs Partners in the Region’ was organised by the Brussels-based NGO European Foundation for Democracy in the European Parliament today ( 28 November 2018). The conference hosted, by MEP Gérard Deprez (ALDE/BE), Tunne Kelam (EPP/EE) and Geoffrey Van Orden (ECR/UK) focused on current challenges in the field of migration and the existing partnership between the EU and its southern partners, such as Morocco.
The EU is Morocco's largest trading partner, accounting for 59,4% of its trade in 2017. 64,6 % of Morocco's exports went to the EU, and 56,5% of Morocco's imports came from the EU. Morocco is the EU’s 22nd trading partner representing 1,0% of the EU’s total trade with the world.
Morocco is not only an important trade partner but also a strategic ally of the EU, especially when it comes to common challenges, such as terrorism and migration. Morocco is the only stable partner of the EU in the region of Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA), which is torn by conflicts. The EU and Morocco enjoy a high-level cooperation in many different areas ranging from fisheries and agriculture to security and development cooperation.
Migration is a top concern for EU citizens and has caused serious political upheaval resulting in the election of populist parties across the continent, especially following the 2015 refugee crisis.
The emergence of new migration routes made Morocco an indispensable partner for the EU, as Spain (surpassing Italy and Greece) attracted the highest number of new arrivals, who used the western Mediterranean route via Morocco this year.
To better control and manage migration flows in order to ensure human lives and respect of human rights, the EU recognised the need to step up financial actions towards Morocco and Africa.
Morocco and EU cooperate on migration control since 2014. According to Moroccan authorities, 54.000 attempts to cross to Europe were foiled between January and the end of August this year in addition to 65.000 attempts in 2017. Moreover, the Moroccan government announced that in 2018, security authorities dismantled 74 criminal networks that had been active in smuggling and human trafficking, and seized more than 1,900 human trafficking vehicles.
The EU sees Morocco as its privileged partner in the area of migration and earmarked €55m for Morocco and Tunisia from its EU Trust Fund for Africa in July in order to train and better equip border guards as part of its efforts to help the country prevent irregular migration.
In addition, the European Commission approved 3 new migration-related programmes in North Africa totalling 90,5 million EUR in July aimed at increasing EU assistance to refugees and vulnerable migrants and improve partner countries’ ability to better manage the borders. Furthermore, the EU signed agreements with Morocco in September on Green Growth and Competitiveness, worth €150m and a €9m as well as the Social Protection programme worth €100m. With these programmes, the EU will help Moroccan people creating new jobs, fostering innovation and start-ups as well as social protection.
It remains to be seen whether humanitarian aid alone will be sufficient to solve the migration crises, as cooperation with MENA region shall be expanded across a broad spectrum of areas, such as geopolitical instability, demographic developments, climate change and socio-economic issues, in order to be meaningful.
As a member of the African Union, Morocco is a partner that could be seen as a bridge to reach out to other African countries and to strengthen cooperation with these countries in order to reduce the root causes of migration.
Morocco will be hosting the Intergovernmental Conference to Adopt the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration on 10th and 11th of December.
The purpose of the Conference is to formally adopt the Global Compact for Migration, as agreed by the Member States of the United Nations on the 13th of July, 2018. The adoption of the world’s first global migration agreement is of utmost importance, as it could potentially transform the lives of almost 250 million migrants across the globe. Thus, it should not be jeopardised by populist governments.
