Last week, the Spanish government approved a further transfer of €30 million to Morocco, earmarked for migration control. This decision, reported by Spanish newspaper Público, marks the fourth instance of such financial aid since 2019. This latest installment translates to roughly $31.8 million USD, based on current exchange rates, highlighting the significant financial commitment Spain is making to manage migration flows at its southern border.
Since 2019, Spain has now channeled a total of €123 million – equivalent to over $130 million USD – to Morocco specifically for migration control purposes. The European Union itself has also been a major contributor, providing €346 million to Morocco during the same period. Looking ahead, the EU is slated to provide an additional €500 million to Morocco by 2027.
According to Jairo Vargas Martín’s report in Público, these figures bring the total financial assistance from Spain and the EU to Morocco for border and migration control to a staggering €969 million between 2019 and 2027. However, the article points out the challenging dynamic of “migratory blackmail,” suggesting that Moroccan authorities have become adept at leveraging migration issues, potentially leading to even greater financial demands in the future.
Statewatch previously analyzed EU funding to Morocco for border control, noting that €215 million was allocated between 2001 and 2019. When combined with the post-2019 commitments, projections indicate that Morocco will have received over €1 billion in combined EU and Spanish funding for border and migration management by 2027. This escalating financial support underscores the increasing emphasis on externalizing border control and relying on neighboring countries to manage migration flows.
The timing of this latest €30 million transfer is noteworthy. It followed a formal letter from the Moroccan government to the UN Human Rights Council, in which Morocco contested Spanish sovereignty over Melilla and asserted the absence of land borders with Spain. This diplomatic maneuver came in the wake of investigations into the violent events at the Melilla border fence in June, where numerous deaths occurred during attempted crossings.
Spain’s continued financial support appears to be a strategic effort to maintain the semblance of cooperation with Morocco on border control. This is crucial for Spain to prevent irregular entries at Ceuta and Melilla, particularly after the events in June when Moroccan forces were criticized for their violent response to migrants and their failure to assist injured individuals.
Since the June incident, Moroccan authorities have actively prosecuted individuals involved in the border crossing attempts, handing down significant prison sentences. Despite these tensions and human rights concerns, the announcement of further funding was accompanied by reassurances from Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who emphasized the “loyal and fraternal” relationship between Spain and Morocco. Prior to an EU Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting, Grande-Marlaska also sought to allay concerns among EU counterparts, describing Spanish-Moroccan relations as “exceptional and extraordinary.” These descriptions highlight the complex and, at times, fraught nature of the relationship, underpinned by substantial financial incentives for migration control.
