After Ceuta, Europe Wants to Pay Morocco More to Tighten Border Controls

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, wants to deepen migration cooperation with Morocco following the events that occurred in Ceuta at the end of July.

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In a letter addressed to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, she presents the kingdom as an essential partner in protecting the European Union’s external borders and combating smuggling networks.

According to Reuters, Brussels is notably considering strengthening early-warning systems as well as its technical and financial support for Morocco.

The Commission also wishes to improve cooperation between Rabat and Madrid around Ceuta and Melilla, the two land borders between Morocco and the European Union.

The crisis strengthens Morocco’s position

Brussels’ response may seem paradoxical. Despite the seriousness of the crisis, the European Union is not calling its partnership with Morocco into question. On the contrary, it is considering giving Morocco more resources to prevent such a scenario from happening again.

Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the cooperation between the Moroccan and Spanish authorities in reducing arrivals and arranging the return of people who entered Ceuta.

This position echoes that of Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, who said that Morocco had cooperated with Spain from the very first hours of the crisis.

For the European Union, Rabat therefore remains an essential player in its migration policy. Its proximity to the Spanish coasts and its role in monitoring routes to Europe place the kingdom at the centre of the system.

Morocco already benefits from European funding intended for border management and the fight against irregular immigration. The events in Ceuta could now lead Brussels to expand this cooperation.

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The crisis would therefore not result in a break with Rabat, but in a strengthening of its role. After Ceuta, Europe appears ready to provide more funding to Morocco to prevent another crisis at its borders.