EU Earmarks €389 Mln for Morocco’s Inclusive Development & Fight against Illegal Migration
The European Commission adopted Friday new cooperation programs worth €389 million in support of Morocco’s inclusive development, fight against illicit migration and human trafficking.
The programs include €289 million destined to back up the reforms engaged in the North African Kingdom and its sustained inclusive development, while €101.7 million will support Morocco’s efforts to combat human smuggling and irregular migration.
This program was adopted last week as part of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.
The EU funding will help Morocco improve access for vulnerable people to education, vocational training, medical care & medicines, better performance of public administration, strengthen human rights and support Moroccan Parliament.
The European financial assistance will also contribute to enhancing Morocco’s control over its land & sea borders and airports to counter the smugglers and illegal migrants.
The EU backs the use by Moroccan authorities of new technologies and exchange of best practices with the EU agencies, Frontex and Europol.
The Respect for human rights and protection of vulnerable migrants will be at the heart of the program putting emphasis on raising the awareness of young people and their families concerning the perils of illegal migration.
Commenting these new cooperation programs, EU foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell said “Morocco has long been an essential partner of the European Union (EU), with which we share borders and aspirations”.
“Under the leadership of His Majesty, King Mohammed VI, Morocco has achieved significant steps towards modernization and has made closer ties with Europe a strategic choice. Faced with shared challenges, the time has come to give new impetus to our relationship through deeper and more diversified cooperation, including towards Africa, in order to link our futures and bring our peoples closer together”, he added.
European Commissioner for Neighborhood Olivér Várhelyi said “Morocco plays a crucial role as a partner of the European Union. Together, we will contribute to the sustainable and inclusive growth of Morocco, we will fight smuggler networks which endanger the lives of vulnerable people and we will improve the protection of migrant victims from these criminal networks”.
