Migration: Morocco Calls for New Euro-African Partnership

Morocco has called on European and African countries to enhance dialogue on migration in a bid to tackle common challenges and set out a new “win-win” partnership serving the interest of the two continents, Africa and Europe.

Addressing the, convened Wednesday in Marrakech within the frame of the Rabat process, Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita told European partners that African countries should not be viewed as “border guards” but as full-fledged partners.

“We are gathered here (…) to define a new strategic framework of the Euro-African dialogue adapted to the changing migratory situation”, said the minister, noting that “there is no alternative to dialogue” which remains the only way to keep up with the new migration policies and regulations.

He also said that the Rabat Process aspires to be the incubator of a new migration governance in line with the goals set by the UN Global Compact, the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) and all instruments linking migration to development, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The minister recalled in this regard, the efforts made by the North African Kingdom in the field of migrants’ socioeconomic integration, asylum and respect of the migrants’ rights.

According to the Moroccan official, Euro-African migration cooperation should be based on solidarity with African countries and not focusing only on border control and the fight against criminal networks of migrants’ smugglers.

Morocco’s migration policy is based on a comprehensive and open approach seeking to consolidate peace, stability and development of the African continent.

Morocco hosted the 5th Euro-African Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development due to its noteworthy experience in migration management, and its support and respect of migrants’ rights, especially those from sub-Saharan Africa.

The North African Kingdom co-chairs with Germany the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) aimed at contributing to the United Nations’ Global Compact on Migration. The Compact is intended to constitute a strong signal of the international community for an enhanced global migration policy.

Morocco will also host later this year the intergovernmental conference on international migration. The conference, due Dec.10-11, is expected to work out a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration.

The global compact for migration will be the first, inter-governmentally negotiated agreement, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, to cover all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner.