Currently visiting Morocco accompanied by a large delegation, Ms. De Ridder spoke with the 1st vice-president of the House of Representatives, Mohamed Sabbari, indicates a press release from the House of Representatives.
During this interview, Ms. De Ridder stressed that the Kingdom has become a model in the field of migration, calling for strengthening cooperation and the exchange of expertise and experiences between the Commission and Morocco.
The meeting was an opportunity for the vice-president to inform the members of the Commission on the migration and asylum policy that Morocco has undertaken since 2013 in application of the High Directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and which is based on respect for the rights and dignity of migrants by integrating them and granting them all rights like Moroccan citizens, reports the same source.
This strategy has enabled the regularization of the situation of thousands of migrants and offered the opportunity to thousands of those who wish to return to their countries of origin through voluntary return operations organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). ), said Mr. Sabbari, adding that thanks to two exceptional operations launched respectively in 2014 and 2016, more than 50,000 migrants were able to regularize their situation, in addition to regularization of the situation of more than 2,300 refugees in 2023.
He also underlined that the African Migration Observatory was created in 2018, at the initiative of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in His capacity as leader in Africa on migration, adding that this Observatory is now an effective tool allowing the African continent to respond to its real and urgent needs, while providing a better understanding of the migratory phenomenon.
Mr. Sabbari also focused on the efforts made by the Moroccan Parliament and government to confront criminal networks and strengthen criminal sanctions with a view to combating illegal immigration and human trafficking.
In response to questions raised by members of the ad hoc committee on migration, he specified that the Kingdom is following with great interest the evolution of the migratory phenomenon and is working to find appropriate solutions, stressing that Morocco is a partner key in managing this phenomenon.
The vice president of the House of Representatives, in this sense, noted that the migration issue is complex due to the geographical location of Morocco, which has become both a country of transit and residence, considering that the resolution of the migratory phenomenon requires the federation of the efforts of all countries, the involvement in resolving conflicts particularly in Africa and the commitment to face the challenges of climate change and drought, in addition to the establishment of balanced cooperation between the continents for economic development and stability policy.