Morocco – guardian of migration routes to Spain

Margaret Czarnik, Bartosz Mirowski, Maciej Pawłowski

• Moroccans migrate mainly to France and Spain.
• Morocco effectively fulfils its anti-illegal migration obligations in exchange for EU associate States' implementation of its interests
• Morocco's economical improvement can reduce migration to the EU

In October this year, visiting Rabat, French president Emmanuel Macron proposed that Morocco's King Muhammad VI enter into a strategical partnership on illegal migration. In return, he supported the country's sovereignty over Western Sahara. Macron's actions are based on Spain's experience. It supports Moroccan interests and, in return, the Moroccan Border defender makes it hard for migrants to cross its borders.

Causes of migration

Despite fast economical development, Morocco is simply a country full of social problems. Between 2000 and 2023 his GDP increased by 88.7% (approximately 3.7% per year) and the unemployment rate did not exceed 11%. However, alongside the large fortunes and the increasing mediate class, the country inactive has a advanced level of poverty. The rate of social inequality is 46%. The level of public education is low, which forces the mediate class to considerable spending on private children's education. The public wellness service has only existed since 2022. The level of private education and wellness care is akin to those provided in EU countries by public funds.

Migration to the EU is besides motivated by moral reasons. Moroccans are under strict parental control, and the streets are patrolled by customs police. Its task is, among another things, to punish those who have feelings in public and to prevent relationships outside marriage. Women are frequently controlled by their brothers. The solution for those who do not accept specified interference with privacy is emigration.

Legal migration

The main directions of legal migration of Moroccans are France and Spain. This is due to the proximity of geographical, historical relationships and close economical relations with erstwhile colonists. In 2014-2023, Moroccans submitted
4.8 million visa applications for Schengen visas, and France and Spain dealt with 85% (more than 4.1 million) of them. In addition, more than 11% of the application (over 560 thousand) was received by the consulates of the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Germany. Germany and the Benelux States are curious in the unchangeable economies, the request for physical workers, and the comparatively open migration policies and Moroccan diaspora present in these countries. The migration scale peaked in 2017-2019, erstwhile almost 2 million Moroccans have applied for a Schengen visa. At the same time, visa refusals increased from 14.2% to 26% between 2014 and 2023.

Some Moroccans whose visa applications have been rejected or have a low chance of being positively examined are attempting to extort visas. This phenomenon mainly affects young people under 30 years. Popular methods include the usage of false certificates, forgeries of papers and the appearance of investment plans in Europe. Formally legal but ethically questionable means include marrying only for entry. This is peculiarly common among young Moroccans and older Europeans who frequently exploit the desperation of young men by promising to aid them get visas. The regulations on the functioning of universities, including Polish ones, are besides utilized in illegal activities. Moroccans declare their intention to start their studies, but after receiving a student visa they do not place themselves at colleges. Instead, they decide to enter into illegal employment in Western Europe.

The Schengen visa process complicates the activities of intermediaries. Private agencies monopolize access to visa deadlines in consulates, artificially restricting accessibility. In exchange for a fee (1000-1500 euro) offer preparation of the application and a faster gathering at the consulate. But if they had not blocked the deadlines, the meetings would have taken place much earlier anyway. The ‘agency’ is convenient for consulates as it reduces the number of errors in visa applications. In time, however, the usage of their services becomes almost the only option to get a visa, as the challenge is to arrange a visit to the consulate. This problem occurs mainly in consulates offering comparatively easy to get visas, e.g. Poland. They effort to counter these practices by e.g. creating lists-rails, circumstantial applicants that are initially verified and are just calling for a facility.

Illegal migration

In the '80s. Morocco has become a transit country for migrants going illegally to Spain. In order to reduce this phenomenon in 1992, Spanish-Moroccan was signed contract Migration. However, she did not enter into force until 20 years later. The agreement provides for the expulsion of persons illegally crossing the Spanish border by sea from the territory of Morocco. From 2009 to 2024 almost 40,000. Moroccan citizens have crossed the EU illegally. In the same period, over 350,000. Migrants from different countries have reached the EU via the Western-Mediterranean (233.5 thousand) and Western-African (128.1 thousand) regions of Morocco.

The entry into force of the migration agreement was preceded by the 2006 canoe crisis. It afraid people from Maghreb, mainly Morocco, who attempted to enter illegally the Canary Islands. Their journeys lasted about 3-7 days and took place in cold and delirium conditions, during which some, reasoning that they had already reached land, jumped out of the boat and drowned. The states of delirium were frequently caused by the body's dysfunction, caused by hunger and quenching thirst by sea water. Additionally, boats frequently lost their GPS signal by dying. In 2018-2022, they went missing like this 244 ships. Migrants pay about EUR 700-800 for specified transport. In 2006, around 40,000 people got into Spain, in 2018 60 000 and in 2021 more than 20 000. In 2021, almost 4,000 people died or went missing on the way. 86% of the bodies are never found and decomposed at the bottom of the sea. Spanish exclaves in North Africa: Ceuta and Melilla are peculiarly susceptible to mass migration. The Moroccan authorities are forced to regularly block their borders from storming migrants.

Morocco uses migration blackmail erstwhile Spain carries out activities contrary to its interest. erstwhile in the summertime of 2021 the Spanish government accepted the treatment of a leader fighting for the independency of the Western Front Sahara Polisario, Moroccan services stopped the implementation of the migration agreement. In addition, they helped migrants scope Ceuta and Melilla indicating to them the least protected border points, among others, beaches. Over 8,000 migrants reached the border within a fewer days, equivalent to 5% of their full population.

By 2018, the subject of illegal migration from Morocco did not make controversy in Spanish society. In 2018, 2 thirds of Spanish citizens expressed a affirmative attitude towards immigrants, and this figure is only higher in Europe Irish. Since then, however, the anti-immigrant electorate liable for the election phenomenon of the right-wing Vox party, which has been the 3rd force of the Spanish parliament since 2019. The subject of illegal migration besides leads to a weakening of separatist tendencies in Catalonia, where, in 2024, for the first time in the past of right-wing groups: The People's organization and Vox doubled their support. An anti-immigrant separatist organization of the Catalan Alliance was besides formed. conventional separatist voters consider limiting migration to be more crucial than gaining independence.

A way to halt illegal migration is to support the improvement of Morocco by the EU. In 2015-2023, the country received over €3.5 billion of EU funds. Between 2018 and 2022 the country attracted abroad direct investment of a full value of 9.2 billion euro, mainly from France and Spain. The jobs thus created are to encourage migrants to stay in Morocco.

Conclusion

Morocco is simply a partner that effectively combats illegal migration. Its dynamic improvement gives hope that in the future this country will transform from a transit site to a destination for migration. Unlike many another non-European countries, EU support for Morocco is more invested than consumed by the local elite. It seems appropriate to increase it in exchange for tackling illegal migration.

Given that moral issues besides contribute to the emigration from Morocco, it is worth encouraging King Muhammad VI to proceed reforms in this area. The upcoming 2030 planet Football Championships, organised by Morocco along with Spain and Portugal, can be a good chance for this. The aim of the event is to build a affirmative image of the country. It is worth suggesting that the moral police and the subtle promotion of a more liberal lifestyle, among others, should be abolished on this occasion in tv series watched by most people.

Morocco is simply a demanding partner who can lobby for his interests. To enforce them, he can hotel to blackmail from migration. Therefore, the EU should draw up alternate action plans in the event of an impossible balance of interests. Morocco besides did not renounce territorial claims against Algeria (Tindouf), Western Sahara, Mauritania and Spain (Ceuta, Melilla). Therefore, excessive consideration of Moroccan interests may lead to a deterioration of relations with its neighbours. For this reason, it is worth considering strengthening the EU's cooperation with Mauritania so that migration movements are hampered even before Morocco.

More information on Morocco's migration to the EU will be presented in Maciej Pawłowski's book "The Gate to Europe. Will North Africa decide on the future of the Old Continent?", which will be published by Przewita Publishing home in 2025.