About: Morocco
Rights court clears Spain over Melilla migrant pushbacks
Spain committed no violation when it expelled migrants trying to force their way onto EU territory by scaling fences in a North African enclave, the European Court of Human Rights ruled Thursday (13 Fenruary). The ruling, which reverses an earlier...
Morocco border clampdown thwarts Europe-bound migrants
Mustapha left his home in Guinea two years ago to make the arduous journey to Morocco, hoping to cross the fence separating the kingdom from the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Police bust ring smuggling Moroccans to Spain via Gibraltar
Police in Spain and Gibraltar have smashed an unusual migrant-smuggling network which flew Moroccans into the tiny British territory then sneaked them over the border to Spain, arresting 47 people.
Spain returns migrants to Morocco after storming of Melilla enclave
Spain sent 55 migrants back to Morocco on Monday (22 October), a day after they forced their way into the Spanish territory of Melilla during an assault on the border in which two migrants died and 19 were injured.
France-Italy tensions as ministers meet on immigration
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe urged far-right Italian leader Matteo Salvini on Monday (8 October) to drop his "posturing" on immigration and help find a European response to the issue.
Sakharov Prize nominees include NGOs in the Mediterranean
The nominees for the 2018 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought have been announced on Thursday (27 September), including Oleg Sentsov, the Ukrainian film director imprisoned in Russia and NGOs saving lives of migrants in the Mediterranean. Since 1988, THE...
Morocco plays cat and mouse with Africans headed to Europe
African emigrants are defying a campaign by Morocco to keep them away from land and sea crossings to Spain, which has become the main entry point to Europe for migrants and refugees following crackdowns elsewhere.
Is it ‘the economy, stupid’ in the EU’s southern neighbourhood?
While trade wars threaten across the Atlantic, enhanced economic cooperation could be the key to stability in the EU’s southern neighbourhood.
Avramopoulos in Spain to announce further EU support to tackle migration
As Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos headed to Madrid, the European Commission announced Friday (3 August) further 3 million in emergency aid to support Spanish border guards in curbing irregular migration.
Sánchez backs Morocco’s call for support to stem migrant flows
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has included Morroco's pending demands of resources for border management, in a letter addressed to the European Commission requesting further emergency assistance to tackle the surge in migrant arrivals.
Over 600 migrants force entry into North African Spanish enclave
More than 600 African migrants forced their way through the heavily fortified border fence separating the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco on Thursday, using circular saws, shears and mallets to cut through the wire.
African leaders set up migration body, reject EU migrant ‘platforms’
African leaders have announced the creation of a new body to help coordinate national policies on migration, but rejected EU plans to set up migrant “disembarkation platforms” on their soil.
EU’s soft power to improve human rights in Morocco
Morocco has made significant progress on a number of human rights issues since the revision of its Constitution in 2011 and the creation of the National Council of Human Rights (CNDH) in 2012, but the EU must continue using its soft power to help Rabat take up other sensitive issues, writes Willy Fautré.
EU dilemma on Morocco-Western Sahara conflict remains unsolved
Morocco is the EU’s most stable trading partner in North Africa and a reliable ally in Brussels’ efforts to control African migration across the Mediterranean. But two rulings by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) have revived political tensions in the region and complicated things for the Commission.
Court in confusion – the EU and Western Sahara
Few were surprised when the European Court of Justice ruled on 27 February that the EU’s fisheries agreement with Morocco is valid, but only if it does not include the disputed Western Sahara territory.
Morocco fisheries pact must not include Western Sahara, EU court confirms
The EU’s fisheries agreement with Morocco is valid as long as it does not include the Western Sahara territory, a region disputed by Morocco and independence fighters, the bloc’s top court, the European Court of Justice, ruled on Tuesday (27 February).
Fisheries agreement with Morocco is an instrument of soft power for EU
If the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement is not renewed, tensions might affect the relations between the EU and Morocco, writes Willy Fautré.
Spain sounds alarm over fighter influx from Sahel
Spain is worried about security on its southern border due to the possible influx of Islamist fighters to West Africa's Sahel region, Spain's foreign minister told AFP in an interview yesterday (8 February).
Europe will hike climate finance spending, insists Cañete
The EU’s climate chief Miguel Arias Cañete has vowed to increase the bloc’s funding for climate change adaption, pledging that 20% of the EU’s foreign spending would be allocated to climate-related projects.
Migrants once again drawn to deadly Spanish route to Europe
The number of migrants arriving on Spain's southern coast has more than doubled in 2017 compared to last year, as they avoid passing through conflict-wracked Libya on their way to Europe.
Western Sahara should be able to negotiate a fisheries partnership agreement with the EU
Morrocco has no official claim to the waters off Western Sahara, so why, Linnéa Engström asks, should the EU pay Rabat for the right to fish there?
Schulz keeps options open on refugee policy
Martin Schulz will contest this year's federal elections and he believes the refugee crisis needs a European solution. But do Germans think his increase in popularity is only a short-lived phenomenon? Euractiv's partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Morocco demands ‘clear signal’ from EU on future relations
A Moroccan minister has warned the European Union that it must “clarify its position” and put an end to its conflicting positions regarding the North African country or face the consequences for both migration and the economy. Euractiv Spain reports.