Development projects would curb down emigration attempts
Morocco, Economics, 6/16/1999

Morocco has underlined the role of development projects in stabilizing marginalized populations tempted by emigration to Europe.

For Morocco, the co-development policy, proposed by France, should target the development projects that are likely to stabilize the marginalized populations tempted by emigration to Europe, Moroccan social development, solidarity, employment and vocational training minister, Khalid Alioua, told French Le Monde daily.

He recalled that Morocco rejected the French proposed formula on emigrants'return to their country of origin. The assistance formula to ensure the return of emigrants has nothing to do with co-development, he said.

If France wants to curb the immigration flows, it would better "earmark specific funds for struggle against poverty" in the immigrants' areas of origin, Alioua said.

The minister, who stressed that Morocco never opted for a population exporting policy, recalled that Morocco and France had concluded an accord under which France is to extend financial assistance to Moroccan jobless young graduates to help them create economic activities in Morocco. He deplored that the promised assistance has not yet been earmarked.

Alioua also regretted the speedy "pre-recruitment" by the French of all Moroccan computer science students through providing them with employment contracts and stay permits before their graduation.

Alioua underlined further that the European Union should understand that Morocco, a major gateway to Europe for all Maghrebans and Africans, cannot bear alone the burden of immigration.

The Europeans who seek to control migration influx, propose to Morocco a free exchange zone but the deal jeopardizes the country's agriculture, as it is not compensated by investments, he deplored. As an instance, he said 2 million Moroccans live on tomato growing. "It will be enough to increase the volume of exports allowed towards Europe to settle the problem of rural emigration and emigration to Europe," he said.

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