EU Seeks Visa Deal with Morocco to Curb Illegal Migration

"Aging Europe needs labor, and irregular arrivals scare European citizens [...]: For me, having fewer irregular arrivals and sending back those who are not authorized to stay is closely linked to visa facilitation and legal migration," relays La Libre, quoting the EU official. She also specified that her first visit to Morocco also aims to "continue the discussions" on the readmission mechanisms launched by the Spanish Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, last week, during a visit to Rabat, regarding the migration crisis in the Canary Islands, where illegal arrivals "have increased by more than 1,000%" this year.

"It seems that more than half of the migrants are Moroccan and it is important to know how to ensure that they return," worries the commissioner, whose institution also wants to discuss with the Moroccan authorities about their "needs" in terms of migration management and the "means necessary for shared benefits."

Since 2018, Morocco has received 343 million euros in European aid for various programs (police training, education, etc.), the media indicates, adding that the European Union records between two and three million regular arrivals (workers, students or refugees) from the various countries of the world each year. About half leave.

Yvla Johansson, who is piloting the reform of the European migration pact, advocates for increased efficiency in the return of illegal migrants to their countries of origin and considers it a priority to obtain "good readmission agreements," concludes the site.