Moroccan ministerial committee on illegal emigration holds first session
Morocco-Italy, Politics, 8/28/1998

The Moroccan ministerial committee on illegal emigration, set up this week, held its first meeting on Thursday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi.

The committee reviewed the provisions of agreements passed between Morocco and some European states to draw the guidelines for a strategy that would guarantee the rights, dignity and interests of Moroccan expatriates.

The committee will debate urgent decisions required by the current situation, marked by the deplorable conditions of Moroccans held in detention centers in some European countries. The strategy to be adopted by the committee will be sumitted to a Cabinet meeting.

According to an official source, the strategy would draw inspiration from the 1950 convention for the protection of human rights and basic freedoms, the principles of partnership between Morocco and the European Union, the UN convention on migrant workers' rights, provisions of international law and various international covenants.

The ministerial committee was set up in accordance with the government's desire to defend the dignity of Moroccan nationals living in European countries, in respect of international law, the preservation of assets and adherence to human rights principles.

The government decided to set up this committee following presentations made by the ministers of interior and foreign affairs on the problems facing Moroccan expatriates that the Italian government intends to repatriate, arguing that they are illegal residents.

Morocco and Italy signed last July an agreement for the repatriation of undocumented Moroccans in Italy.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco sets up ministerial committee on illegal emigration   (8/26/1998)
  Italy seeks to increase legal immigration in cooperation with Morocco   (8/21/1998)
  23 Moroccan illegal immigrants saved by Spanish boat   (8/18/1998)

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