On Friday 20 December, the European Commission adopted new cooperation programmes worth €389 million to support Morocco in its reforms, inclusive development and border management.
From these funds, €289 million will be financed from the bilateral cooperation package to support Morocco's reforms and inclusive development, the Commission said in a press release. The programmes financed by its funds are aimed at improving access to education and vocational training for vulnerable groups (especially the rural population, socially vulnerable people and migrants) and at supporting the health sector, improving care and access to medicines in the face of advanced regionalisation. According to the Commission, they will also improve the performance of the public administration in order to enhance transparency and the efficiency of the delivery of public services and will provide enhanced human rights support and institutional support to the Moroccan Parliament.
The remaining €101.7 million will come from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, via a financing agreement with Morocco for a budget support programme in support of border management. The programme will contribute to strengthening the management of land and maritime borders and airports by helping Morocco to continue to modernise its resources, including through the use of new technologies and the sharing of good practice with the EU agencies, Frontex and Europol. The programme will also include training related to respect for human rights and the protection of vulnerable migrants, as well as a programme to raise awareness among young people and their families of the risks of illegal migration. The Commission explains that the analysis and collection of migration data as part of the programme will help to provide the basis for a deeper partnership and dialogue with Morocco. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)