Morocco and Spain set up joint commission on immigration

Morocco and Spain decided to set up a joint commission that will handle all immigration-related issues.

The decision was made at a recent meeting in Rabat between Moroccan minister of social development, employment and vocational training, Khalid Alioua, and the officer in charge of emigration at the Spanish ministry of employment and social affairs.

The joint commission will hold its first meeting in Rabat in the few coming weeks.

The Spanish official also signed with the director of the Moroccan social welfare board "caisse nationale de securite sociale" (CNSS) an agreement under which low-income Spanish citizens living in Morocco will receive medicare at CNSS medical units. The Spanish ministry of employment and social affairs will pay for the expenses.

The number of Moroccans living and working in Spain was estimated at the end of 1997 at 111,100 persons, accounting for 20% of the number of foreigners living in Spain.

A community of 7,291 Spaniards is living in Morocco.