Impact of Spain-Morocco Cooperation on Migration Patterns
Recent operational collaboration between Spain and Morocco has resulted in a noteworthy reduction in irregular migration along the West African route. According to a comprehensive report by the European Union Asylum Agency (EUAA), there has been a staggering 63% decrease in monitoring operations and a 17% decline in departures from Morocco. This collaborative effort in border management and maritime surveillance has played a crucial role in curbing migration flows along this critical route. Interestingly, while departures from Morocco have diminished, there has been a 17% increase in irregular departures from neighboring Algeria, highlighting a shifting dynamic in the region's migration patterns.
In addition to these operational measures, the European Council's recent adoption of a unified list of 'safe countries of origin' is expected to expedite asylum processing for Moroccan citizens. This list, which was established as part of the Migration and Asylum Pact, includes countries such as Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco, and Tunisia. The implementation of this list means that EU member states will apply an accelerated procedure for processing asylum applications from individuals hailing from these nations, while still ensuring that each application is assessed on its own merits. Notably, Moroccan citizens accounted for approximately 21,000 of the total asylum applications submitted in 2025, reflecting a significant demand for asylum within the EU.
Statistics on Asylum Applications and Migration Trends
The report further reveals that in 2025, a total of 21,000 asylum applications were filed by Moroccan citizens, amidst a broader context of 37,000 applications from Bangladesh, 25,000 from Egypt, and 22,000 from Colombia. The acceptance rates for asylum requests from these nationalities have varied across EU countries, ranging between 2% and 6%. Additionally, the Western Mediterranean route has experienced a rise in irregular border crossings, increasing from approximately 17,000 cases in 2024 to around 19,000 in 2025, which represents an 11% increase. This trend is attributed to a growing influx of migrants from Somalia and the Sahel region, with some opting for the Western Mediterranean route as an alternative to the West African route.
In contrast, the West African route towards the Canary Islands has seen a significant downturn in irregular crossings, plummeting from about 47,000 cases in 2024 to roughly 17,000 in 2025, marking a substantial 63% decrease. This decline has been primarily driven by reduced migrant flows from Mauritania, Morocco, and Senegal. Furthermore, data from Frontex indicates that Morocco ranked tenth among the nationalities involved in illegal crossings of the EU’s external borders between January and November 2025, with 6,786 cases representing 4% of the total. In comparison, Bangladesh topped the list with 22,353 cases, followed by Egypt and Afghanistan with 17,489 and 14,879 cases, respectively.
As reported by en.yabiladi.com.
