Morocco urged to strengthen migration cooperation with Europe as pressures grow

16:30

By: Sahili Aya

Morocco urged to strengthen migration cooperation with Europe as pressures grow

Morocco has played a central role in managing migration flows toward Europe for years, but a sustainable response to irregular migration will require greater involvement from European countries, according to American political scientist Paolo von Schirach.

The president of the Global Policy Institute and a professor of political science and international relations at Bay Atlantic University in Washington told MAP that Morocco had assumed significant responsibilities in preventing and managing irregular migration and that European partners should now strengthen their own contribution.

A call for stronger coordination

Von Schirach argued that closer cooperation between Morocco and European countries has become increasingly important as governments seek more effective ways to anticipate and respond to changing migration routes.

He pointed to the need for improved coordination, stronger communication channels and more effective early-warning and monitoring mechanisms. In his view, migration management cannot depend on the efforts of one country alone.

The American expert described the issue as a collective challenge requiring sustained cooperation among all parties involved.

For Morocco, which occupies a strategic position between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, migration management has become an important component of its relations with European partners.

Beyond border controls

While security and border management remain important elements of migration policy, von Schirach stressed that the phenomenon should not be viewed exclusively through that lens.

He argued that migration is a structural global issue whose underlying drivers include economic disparities, social conditions and development gaps.

This approach, he suggested, requires countries in the northern hemisphere to devote greater attention to the factors encouraging people to leave their countries of origin rather than focusing solely on preventing irregular crossings.

Morocco and Europe face a shared challenge

The comments highlight the increasingly interconnected nature of migration management between Morocco and Europe.

Morocco's geographical position makes it an important partner for European countries seeking to monitor migration routes across the western Mediterranean and Atlantic corridors. At the same time, European policy decisions and broader economic and social conditions continue to influence migration dynamics across the region.

Von Schirach therefore called for existing cooperation mechanisms to be consolidated rather than relying on isolated responses when migration pressures intensify.

A broader strategy for migration governance

The debate over migration is increasingly shifting toward a combination of security, development and international cooperation.

From this perspective, stronger coordination between Morocco and European countries could help authorities identify emerging migration patterns earlier and respond more efficiently.

But addressing the phenomenon in the longer term will also require policies aimed at its underlying causes, particularly economic opportunity, social stability and development.

For von Schirach, the message is clear: migration management should be treated as a shared international responsibility, with both sides expected to contribute to a more coordinated and comprehensive response.