EU Urged to Take Tougher Line on Morocco

The European Union should use all available tools, including visa policy and trade relations, in its negotiations with Morocco to secure cooperation in curbing illegal migration.

European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner made the statement after approximately 72,000 migrants entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa last week. Brunner noted that the EU remains vulnerable as long as the protection of its borders depends on the goodwill of neighboring states.

In recent years, the EU has been concluding agreements with North African countries, providing them with financial support in exchange for stricter border controls and cooperation on the return of migrants.

Critics, however, argue that such a policy allows transit countries to use migration as a tool for political pressure.

The mayor of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, described Morocco as an unreliable partner and called for the European Union to directly manage the protection of the EU's only land border with Africa.

(Reuters, mja)