EU commends Morocco’s enormous efforts in migration management

European Union Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood, Oliver Varhelyi, and EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson who are on a working visit to Rabat have both commended Morocco for the “enormous” efforts it undertakes in managing the migration issue.

Morocco is a reliable partner to the EU in the management of migration issues, said Oliver Varhelyi after talks with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita.

“Morocco is a reliable partner to the EU in dealing with this issue,” he said, underlining the Kingdom’s important role in helping the EU in its efforts to better manage the migration issue that can create not only security problems but also economic ones.

Managing the migration issue “is a common task that we must address together. Here again, Morocco is in the lead, it is a credible and sensitive partner to this problem,” the EU Commissioner underlined, saying that he was “very grateful” for Morocco’s efforts in this area.

 

Oliver Varhelyi voiced EU’s keenness to see “this privileged partnership” further strengthened, beyond security and migration issues.

 

Cooperation between the EU and Morocco in migration matters was also discussed at a meeting Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson held with Moroccan Interior Minister, Abdelouafi Laftit.

 

Migration is a normal phenomenon that must be “managed together” within the framework of “a close and mutually beneficial partnership,” Johansson told the press following the talks.

The Commissioner, who wished to “work even more closely” with the Kingdom, stated that she is keen to learn from the Moroccan experience in the area while being open to other experiences.

 

Johansson stressed the importance of “working closely” with EU Member States on migration issues, as part of a “pragmatic” approach and “inclusive cooperation with Morocco and all Member States.”

The European official also praised the “enormous” efforts undertaken by Morocco in managing the migration issue, hailing the “very good cooperation and very privileged partnership with Morocco.”

During her trip to Rabat, Johansson inspected several EU-funded projects in the area of migration and integration of migrants.