Moroccan speaker calls for comprehensive, integrated approach to immigration
Morocco-European Union, Politics, 5/23/2002

Addressing the issue of immigration requires a comprehensive and integrated approach that favors the economic and social development of immigration countries, rather than just security measures, said in Brussels Tuesday speaker of the Moroccan house of representatives, Abdelouahed Radi.

Underscoring the growing importance of immigration in relations between the two banks of the Mediterranean, Radi who took part in an encounter on migrations and human exchanges, insisted on the shared responsibility between the European Union countries and south Mediterranean ones in fighting illegal webs trafficking in humans.

He further explained that illegal immigration would not exist without illegal demand from European countries themselves, before making a clear distinction between illegal and legal migrants who should be enjoy all guarantees of equal treatment in host countries. Host counties, he went on, should see to improving living conditions of migrants from southern countries by fighting amalgams and discriminations as well as easing visa-delivering procedures.

Vice-speaker Brahim Rachidi, who also took part in the conference, stressed that the EU is better placed to struggle against illegal immigration which now uses Morocco as a transit despite Morocco's stringent border controls. He further denounced the use of immigration issues for purely electioneering ends and the confusion between immigration, Islam and terrorism.

Rachidi further called the European Union, which hosts 2.5 million Moroccan expatriates (70% of the Moroccan community settled abroad) to activate social aspects in their cooperation relations with Morocco.

The Brussels encounter was held in preparation for the Euro-Mediterranean parliamentary conference slated for next June in Bari (Italy).

Previous Stories:
  European union calls Algeria to release Moroccan prisoners   (4/9/2002)
  Human rights group takes note of European Union's failure to adopt practical position on Palestinian issue   (4/2/2002)
  Morocco-European union association committee meets in rabat   (3/12/2002)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search