Morocco’s growing power at the heart of Europe’s migration strategy

Once considered a mere transit hub for African migrants heading to Europe, Morocco has emerged as a central player in the European Union’s external migration policy, blending diplomacy, security, and influence across the Mediterranean.

Morocco as Europe’s border enforcer

Morocco’s transformation from a transit country to a pivotal gatekeeper reflects a decade of deepening collaboration with the EU. In 2024, Moroccan authorities intercepted 78,685 irregular migration attempts, marking a 4.6% rise from the previous year. This surge underscores the country’s growing role as Europe’s first line of defense.

Spain has intensified its reliance on Morocco, allocating €5 million in early 2025 to enhance border control infrastructure. Meanwhile, the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) contributed €152 million in 2023 to strengthen Morocco’s border systems, combat smuggling, and support voluntary returns under the National Immigration and Asylum Strategy.

These partnerships have tied Rabat firmly into Europe’s security framework, positioning it as an indispensable ally in managing migration flows.

The diplomacy of mobility

At the foundation of this cooperation lies the concept of Mobility Partnerships—agreements designed to balance legal migration, border management, and asylum protection. Morocco was one of the first countries to sign such an accord with the EU in 2013, alongside France, Spain, and Germany.

In theory, these partnerships offer mutual benefits: the EU gains tighter borders, while Morocco secures funding and expanded migration pathways for workers and students. In practice, however, the EU’s focus on enforcement often limits Moroccan nationals’ access to legal migration opportunities. Critics argue that the system reinforces Europe’s security agenda while offering minimal human mobility in return.

Human rights and externalization

Europe’s policy of externalizing border control, outsourcing enforcement to North African nations—has drawn increasing scrutiny. Human rights organizations report recurring abuses, including pushbacks and unsafe conditions for migrants stranded in transit zones.

Analyst Teresa Nogueira Pinto describes this framework as “transactional,” in which the EU exchanges financial aid and trade incentives for Morocco’s cooperation. The arrangement may reduce migration numbers, but it also raises ethical questions about accountability and the human cost of Europe’s border politics.

Power and influence in migration diplomacy

For Morocco, this complex relationship is not only about financial support but also about leverage. Rabat uses its role as a strategic partner to bolster its geopolitical standing, particularly in discussions over Western Sahara and regional leadership.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has promoted a development-based migration policy, emphasizing investment in African economies to tackle root causes. Yet, despite these ambitions, reality remains marked by militarized borders and rapid deportations, illustrating the fragile balance between humanitarian commitments and political pragmatism.

For the EU, the reliance on external partners like Morocco prompts difficult questions about the limits of its migration model and the values it risks compromising.

Calls for transparency and reform

European Parliament reports have highlighted a lack of oversight in EU-funded border programs in Morocco, calling for greater transparency. NGOs, including Caritas Morocco, advocate for a rights-based approach that prioritizes legal pathways, social integration, and sustainable employment for Sub-Saharan migrants already residing in the country.

Caritas Morocco alone has assisted over 45,000 migrants since the early 2000s through legal support, healthcare access, and vocational training, especially in agriculture and construction sectors that align with Morocco’s development goals.

Balancing control and cooperation

Morocco’s rise as both a partner and a pressure point in EU migration policy reflects the tensions at the heart of Europe’s externalization strategy. While Rabat’s cooperation is crucial to Brussels, it also exposes the contradictions between security priorities and humanitarian values.

As migration governance continues to evolve, Morocco’s position offers a lesson in power dynamics, ethical responsibility, and the price of partnership at Europe’s doorstep.