Illegal immigration fight tops EU-Morocco talks

Means to fight illegal immigration topped a meeting, held in Brussels on Friday, between European Union officials and Moroccan counterparts, who insisted on a global and balanced approach, based on shared responsibility.

During this informal meeting, the 4th since the beginning of the year, the Moroccan side made no objection as to the principle of readmission of undocumented immigrants, provided that an accord on this question applies only to those who can prove their Moroccan citizenship.

The Moroccan delegation also made it clear that an eventual accord on this issue will abrogate bilateral ones with EU's member states.

EU, which pays particular attention to the readmission issue, granted Morocco 40 million Euros to help the Kingdom fight illegal immigration, the head of the Moroccan delegation told MAP.

Fathallah Sigilmassi, Director of European Affairs department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said this EU's allotment will be instrumental "in implementing a concrete project aiming to fight this issue in a spirit of shared responsibility, given our common challenges and stakes."

The Moroccan official emphasized the necessity to deal with immigration-related issues according to a strategic and balanced vision, away from any security-driven conception.