The Spanish government has touted the success of its migration cooperation with Morocco, especially lauding Moroccan authorities’ tackling of last week’s mass migration attempts recorded since last week in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
In a speech today during a meeting of Spain’s Congress of Deputies, Foreign Affairs Minister Jose Manuel Albares stressed that cooperation between Madrid and Rabat has been instrumental in foiling thousands of attempts at Spain-bound irregular migration.
The top Spanish diplomat made the remarks in the wake of the usual Morocco-bashing criticism from several Spanish parties, including far-right Vox.
A deputy from the party called on the government to cut the budget of its migration cooperation with Morocco, claiming the North African country is using migration as a “pressure tool.” He also urged the Spanish cabinet to “immediately expel individuals who enter Spain irregularly or commit crimes.”
According to Europa Press, the Spanish minister responded to this criticism by calling on the Spanish party to “acknowledge the work done by Moroccan security forces.”
Morocco has long emphasized that its approach to migration includes efforts to preserve its internal security and stability, insisting that it is interested in “cooperation of shared responsibility” instead of one where it is expected to act as “Europe’s policeman.”
These remarks from Spain come just days after a series of dramatic incidents of Spain-bound mass migration in northern Morocco, particularly on September 15. witnessed a dramatic week, especially on September 15, a day dubbed by many news outlets as “the great escape day.”
Throughout that day, which many news outlets dubbed “The Day of the Great Escape,” Morocco deployed scores of security forces to prevent attempts at irregular migration after a social media campaign encouraged young people to participate in a mass migration operation.
Videos and photos circulating online show many youths engaged in vandalism and riots, targeting user and security services vehicles.
In addition to the Spanish government, several media in Spain endorsed Morocco’s efforts to address this unprecedented situation.
“Since Friday Morocco has sent an unprecedented contingent of Gendarmerie and other security bodies to the coastal town of Fnideq (Castillejos), adjacent to Ceuta, including hundreds of agents, vehicles, and eight boats,” El Pais reported last week on Sunday, noting that there were two attempts to scale the fence.
