Morocco calls for a quota system for immigration
Morocco-European Union, Politics, 10/24/2003

Morocco has called for the regulation of immigration by establishing a quota system to help candidates to migration to Europe settle there in a legal way.

In a statement to MAP, Wednesday, on the fringes of the 2nd ministerial conference of member-countries of the "5"5 Dialogue" (made up of the five Maghreb countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania, and five European countries: France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Malta), Moroccan minister of employment, social affairs and solidarity, Mustapha Mansouri, said this system should be accompanied by a "professional training" of these legal immigrants in order to facilitate their integration in the host countries.

Every year, tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from Morocco and Sub-Saharan Africa attempt to cross the Gibraltar Strait, most of the time aboard makeshift boats, with the hope of reaching the Spanish peninsula by paying human-traffickers networks. Some of them never make it to the "Eldorado" and die on their way while thousand others are arrested before or while reaching the European continent.

The regulation of the flow of illegal immigrants is among the issue topping the agenda of the two-day conference that will also discuss the rights and duties of migrants in the host countries as well as migration and co-development.

Nouzha Chekrouni, Moroccan minister in charge of Moroccan expatriates, hopes that this conference adopts "a comprehensive approach that goes beyond security aspects to encompass humanitarian and socio-cultural aspects and migrants' rights."

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Chekrouni said by playing host to the meeting, Morocco wishes to intensify the 5"5 Dialogue and promote cooperation between the northern and southern Mediterranean banks.

She pointed out to the causes of what she called "migratory disorder" that is mainly due to the development gap between the two banks of the Mediterranean.

While explaining that prosperity in Europe attracts migrants from Africa, the Moroccan minister noted that the exploitation by the Mafia networks of this "irresistible attraction" has increased dramatically.

The Moroccan official was echoed by other speakers, mainly head of the Algerian delegation, Ambassador Meghar Houcine, who observed that migration should not be perceived as a negative phenomenon and a source of misunderstanding or divergences, but rather as a "dynamic aspect."

Tunisian minister of social affairs and solidarity, Chedli Neffati, urged participants to work out a program that takes into account the common interests of people in the region.

On his part, Spanish Under-Secretary of State at the ministry of employment, Jos? Maria Olano, said his country ambitions to adapt the migratory flow to the needs of the job market and to reduce the number of illegal immigrants.

He pledged that a system of annual quotas of work permits for foreigners will be set up to satisfy available job offers.

Speaking at the conference, French minister Nicole Amiline insisted that any immigration policy should include mechanisms for immigrants' integration.

Previous Stories:
  EU's new neighborhood policy is no alternative to Euro-Mediterranean process, official   (10/22/2003)
  le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb: Chaves pleads for special status for Morocco in its relations with EU   (10/18/2003)
  European MP calls for 'more than partnership' in Morocco-EU ties   (10/9/2003)
  Sahrawi dignitary satisfied with European MPs and officials' support to morocco   (9/29/2003)
  Morocco, Algeria set up security cooperation task group   (9/26/2003)
  Moroccan-Spanish task group on delimitation of maritime spaces to meet before mid-october   (7/26/2003)
  Morocco considers new immigration strategy, minister   (6/16/2003)
  European commission proposes 250 mln euro aid to third countries concerned by immigration   (6/12/2003)

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