King Mohammed VI, in a speech on October 9 at the opening of the Moroccan Parliament, referred to the limitations of the migration cooperation model with Spain and stated that his country's efforts in controlling illegal migration have led to tangible results. He mentioned the recurring crises that have affected this cooperation.
The State of Migration and Existing Challenges
In July, at least 70,000 people crossed from Morocco to the Ceuta region. While most of them have returned to their country, thousands, including children, still remain in this region. The King of Morocco pointed to Spain's "obsolete" and "unrealistic" judicial decisions that have disrupted cooperation on migration and hindered the return of children and fake asylum seekers.
He further stated, "These decisions are unfortunately undermining the process of returning migrants and contributing to the intensification of criminal networks' activities." These remarks come as opposition parties in Spain have accused Pedro Sánchez's government of facilitating the passage of migrants.
Morocco and Spain Relations
Morocco has responded to these accusations, stating that the passage of migrants is due to the misuse of social media and the misinterpretation of a judicial ruling that seemed to create a legal loophole for entering the Mediterranean Sea. The King of Morocco also emphasized that cooperation with Spain is a sovereign choice and "will never be subjected to pressure, threats, or extortion."
He also announced that Morocco intends to propose a vision based on joint development, economic competition, and regional stability to its partners. Relations between Morocco and Spain have improved following Spain's support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara in 2022, but these relations have faced challenges following the Ceuta migration crisis.
In his speech, the King of Morocco appointed Fatima Zahra Mansouri as the new Prime Minister of the country. This appointment came after his party was recognized as the winner in the September 23 elections. The King also urged parliament representatives to place youth at the center of public policies.
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