Brussels, 21/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 19 January, the EU and Morocco started discussions with a view to concluding an agreement on mobility. One of the objectives of the agreement would be to regulate the issuing of visas and, in return, to bring Morocco to signing a readmission agreement, following “a comprehensive, balanced, pragmatic and operational approach”.
The visas question is said to consist of concluding an orderly and managed facilitation for these precious travel documents. The readmission - which is accepted reluctantly by Rabat - consists of setting an obligation for Morocco to readmit migrants on its territory who are refused by Europe.
Little information is currently available about the results of this meeting. On the European side it is said that the discussions are in a spirit of partnership with Morocco. One text states that this framework “covers all the issues linked to migratory questions: responsible and humane management of illegal migration, facilitation of Moroccan citizens' mobility, improvement in recognising professional qualifications, and cooperation between employment departments”. It also offers “support to the Moroccan diaspora in Europe wanting to invest in Morocco, as well as cooperation on human trafficking and asylum”. In addition, it aims “at supporting implementation of the new innovative migratory policy adopted by Morocco in September 2013, and especially the integration of immigrants whose situation has been made legal”. This week's discussions reportedly mark a “new stage” after “a number of cooperation projects” between the EU, certain member states and Morocco “have been implemented” over the last 18 months. There is no detail on these projects at this stage. (FB)