Support for Morocco in combating illegal migration
1.7.2022
Question for written answer E-002398/2022
to the Commission
Rule 138
Thierry Mariani (ID)
The European Union commends the Kingdom of Morocco for its endeavours to prevent illegal migration, having decided in 2013 to support its national migration and asylum strategy.
The events of 24 June 2022 in Melilla have shown that such assistance is necessary and should certainly be stepped up, all the more so since the Moroccan authorities have recorded over 145 attacks on Spanish enclaves from their territory since 2016.
Since 2014, the overall migration cooperation package for Morocco has been limited to EUR 360 million. Moreover, the Moroccan authorities estimate that only around EUR 270 million of this has been earmarked directly for border protection and assistance in combating illegal migration.
At the same time, it is essential for the EU to protect its southern neighbourhood from migratory pressures.
- 1.Does the Commission accordingly plan to step up EU support for Morocco, which is facing an increase in migratory pressures at its border?
- 2.Does it intend to call for measures to step up Frontex’s Operation Indalo and, in particular, cooperation with the Moroccan security forces?
- 3.Does the Commission believe that Morocco should receive support comparable with that received by Turkey to help control migration flows?