Morocco, a strategic partner playing a major role in migration management – EU Commissioner

Morocco is a “key strategic” partner of the European Union and plays a “major” role in migration management and the fight against smugglers, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, said on Monday before the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Speaking during a plenary debate on the recent storming attempt of the metal fence in the province of Nador by some 2000 would-be migrants, the European official said she “intends to continue discussions with Morocco (…) to strengthen our global partnership on migration.”

Johansson, who noted that “99% of illegal migrants use smugglers,” said that those involved in the latest incidents “came from Sudan and went through Libya and Algeria.”

The smugglers are responsible for the tragic fate of these people, she added, stressing the need to “work with our African partners, countries of origin, transit and destination, including Morocco, to act against smugglers, address the root causes, reduce irregular migration flows and improve legal flows.”

Recalling that since taking office, she had worked on the creation of a strong partnership with countries of origin, transit or destination, Johansson called for “targeting the roots of illegal migration, so people are not forced to risk their lives (…) and open legal migration channels to fight against smugglers.”

The attempted forced crossing of the metal fence in the province of Nador was marked by the use of unprecedented violence by the candidates for illegal migration against the elements of law enforcement, who acted with professionalism and respect for the laws and regulations.

Armed with stones, clubs and sharp objects, these would-be illegal migrants resisted violently the law enforcement officers, who were mobilized to prevent them from crossing the fence.