Rabat: Morocco should be regarded “neither as a scapegoat nor as Europe’s mere border guard,” but rather as ‘a full-fledged partner,’ particularly on migration, which constitutes ‘a shared challenge,’ Belgian legal expert, Geoffroy Generet, stressed.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Generet made these remarks in response to clarifications provided by Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the latest developments in Moroccan-Spanish relations. Generet emphasized that it was ‘understandable that Morocco refuses to be held responsible’ for the regrettable migration-related events of last July, especially ‘in the absence of evidence demonstrating the involvement of its authorities.’
The statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reflects ‘a legitimate concern,’ Generet noted, pointing out the tendency to associate Morocco, sometimes too hastily, with controversies stemming from political and media battles in Spain. He described Morocco’s call for a thorough examination of these events as ‘constructive,’ aiming to establish the exact circumstances, identify any possible shortcomings, manipulation, or interference, and prevent such incidents ‘from periodically undermining a bilateral relationship whose importance extends far beyond the migration issue alone.’
Generet highlighted the permanent geographical proximity between Morocco and Spain, emphasizing the importance of preserving ‘a direct, respectful and ongoing dialogue between Rabat and Madrid’ and preventing bilateral issues from being used for domestic political purposes. He further noted that relations between Morocco and Europe ‘cannot be reduced to border management,’ underscoring that the Kingdom is ‘a major partner of the EU’ in various areas.
On the subject of migration, Generet pointed out that Morocco, Spain, and the EU share a common interest in strengthening their cooperation, particularly in combating human trafficking and smuggling networks. He also emphasized the importance of developing legal migration pathways, professional mobility, training, and people-to-people exchanges.