Morocco's Stand on Unaccompanied Minors
Morocco has reaffirmed its readiness to cooperate with Spain and its European partners regarding the repatriation of unaccompanied minors, in alignment with the High Royal Instructions directed to the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs. This commitment was highlighted by a Moroccan diplomatic source, emphasizing the Kingdom's dedication to facilitating the identification of affected minors to enable their safe return to their home countries. Furthermore, Rabat expressed its willingness to work collaboratively with Spanish and European authorities to ensure the effective execution of these repatriation efforts.
This declaration comes at a time when the issue of migration frequently attracts criticism toward Morocco. Each resurgence of the immigration debate sees some voices accusing the Kingdom of insufficient cooperation, particularly regarding the repatriation of unaccompanied minors currently residing in Spain. However, the diplomatic source has branded these accusations as "fallacious and unfounded," condemning the political exploitation of this sensitive issue by certain actors, especially for electoral purposes, and affirming that such narratives do not accurately reflect the reality of cooperation between Morocco and Spain.
From Morocco's perspective, the challenges faced during repatriation operations stem not from a refusal to collaborate, but primarily from administrative and judicial hurdles within partner countries. The source reiterated that Morocco consistently honors its commitments, while acknowledging that national legislation and associated procedures can significantly hinder the practical implementation of repatriation processes. The Moroccan diplomatic representative stressed the principled nature of the country’s engagement in this matter, insisting that Morocco will not accept the use of this issue as a political lever to suggest that it is unwilling to collaborate or indifferent to the plight of unaccompanied minors.
In this context, Rabat calls upon its partners to address their internal mechanisms to remove barriers that obstruct or delay repatriation efforts. The diplomatic source stated, "If partners are earnest about facilitating these returns, they must undertake internal reforms to overcome the obstacles posed by their own legislation and administrative and judicial powers." In summary, Morocco believes that effective migration cooperation must be based on mutual commitments and a focus on finding concrete solutions, distancing itself from accusations and the political exploitation of the issue.
As reported by enjeux.info.
