Morocco Seeks Spanish Aid to Train Health and Tourism Workers, Offers Migration Control

The kingdom promises in return to better fight against illegal immigration from its territory, reports the newspaper El Pais, which recalls that last year 58,000 migrants arrived on the Spanish coasts, the majority of whom were Moroccan nationals.

According to the newspaper, the Moroccan authorities want to train workers in key sectors such as tourism and health and are also demanding the implementation of a program modeled on Erasmus, allowing young people to go study abroad before returning to their country of origin.

As in the past, Spain is ready to defend Morocco’s demands with the European Union, assures the Secretary of State for Migration, Consuelo Rumí, as she says she is "aware that Morocco’s cooperation is essential to curb migratory pressure".

The European Union had promised aid of 140 million euros which was to be delivered before the end of last December, but it is still awaiting delivery from Morocco.

Spain, for its part, has provided several all-terrain vehicles in recent weeks to help law enforcement fight illegal immigration.