On a Tuesday in late October 2022, the Spanish government’s Council of Ministers approved a financial aid package of €30 million for Moroccan authorities. This allocation, intended for migration control, marks the fourth instance of such funding since 2019, as reported by the Spanish newspaper Público. This contribution underscores the ongoing financial support from Spain to Morocco, raising critical questions about its effectiveness and ethical implications.
Spain’s Financial Commitment to Moroccan Migration Control
The recent disbursement of €30 million, approximately $30 million based on prevailing exchange rates at the time, brings Spain’s total financial aid to Morocco for migration control to €123 million since 2019. This substantial figure highlights Spain’s increasing reliance on Morocco to manage migration flows, particularly at its Ceuta and Melilla borders. The consistent flow of funds indicates a strategic approach by Spain to externalize border control responsibilities.
EU’s Broader Financial Support for Morocco
Spain’s contributions are part of a larger trend of financial support from the European Union to Morocco for similar purposes. Since 2019, the EU has provided Morocco with €346 million, and an additional €500 million is planned by 2027. This combined EU and Spanish funding will reach a staggering €969 million between 2019 and 2027, according to reporting by Jairo Vargas Martín in Público. However, concerns are mounting that this financial dependency could be exploited by Moroccan authorities, potentially leading to increased demands for further funding, a tactic described as “migratory blackmail.”
Historical Context: EU Funding for Border Security in Morocco
A historical perspective reveals a long-standing pattern of EU financial support for border security in Morocco. A previous analysis by Statewatch detailed €215 million in EU funding allocated to Morocco for border control between 2001 and 2019. When combined with the post-2019 figures, projections indicate that Morocco will have received over €1 billion from the EU and Spain for border and migration control by 2027. This vast sum underscores the EU’s and Spain’s strategic reliance on Morocco as a key partner in managing migration to Europe.
Geopolitical Tensions and Migration Control
The latest €30 million transfer occurred shortly after the Moroccan government sent a letter to the UN Human Rights Council challenging Spanish sovereignty over Melilla. Morocco asserted that it does not share land borders with Spain, a statement seen as contradicting the very premise of Spanish migration control efforts at the Ceuta and Melilla borders. This diplomatic maneuver followed a UN investigation into the violent events at the Melilla border fence in June, where numerous migrants died during attempted crossings.
Motivations Behind Spanish Funding
Spain’s continued financial support for Morocco, even amidst geopolitical tensions, suggests a strategic imperative to maintain the appearance of Moroccan cooperation in border control. By funding Morocco, Spain aims to deter irregular migration across the fences at Ceuta and Melilla. This strategy relies on Moroccan authorities preventing migrants from reaching Spanish borders, even if it involves controversial actions like the violent border control tactics witnessed in June.
Controversies and Human Rights Concerns
The effectiveness and ethical implications of funding Moroccan migration control are increasingly debated. Following the June border tragedy, Moroccan authorities have prosecuted many migrants involved in the attempted crossing, handing down significant prison sentences. Despite these controversies and human rights concerns, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska publicly reaffirmed Morocco’s “loyal and fraternal” friendship and assured EU counterparts of the “exceptional and extraordinary” relationship between Spain and Morocco, even as criticism mounts over Morocco’s human rights record and border control practices.
Further Reading
