Morocco’s King Orders Action on Unaccompanied Minors in Europe

King Mohammed VI "has been pleased to reiterate His Very High Instructions to the ministers in charge of the Interior and Foreign Affairs so that the issue of unaccompanied Moroccan minors, who are in an irregular situation in certain European countries, is definitively settled," said a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad.

The sovereign said he has reaffirmed "the clear and firm commitment of the Kingdom of Morocco to accept the return of duly identified unaccompanied minors," the statement said, recalling that this cooperation set up with some countries like France and Spain has allowed the return to Morocco of several dozen minors. "Morocco is willing to cooperate, as it has always done, with European countries and the European Union, to resolve this issue" and hopes to be able to count on the good collaboration of the countries concerned.

Furthermore, Morocco "regrets again that the migration issue, including the issue of unaccompanied minors, is used as a pretext to circumvent the real causes of the current political crisis with Spain, the origins and foundations of which are well known," the statement said, adding that "the Moroccan authorities reserve the right to provide, at the appropriate time, the appropriate responses to the unfounded accusations of the Spanish government."