In a press release issued at the end of the 22nd meeting of the Moroccan-Spanish Permanent Joint Migration Group, chaired by Spain’s Secretary of State for Migration, Pilar Cancela Rodriguez, and the Wali Director of Migration and Border Surveillance, Khalid Zerouali, the Ministry stressed that the Secretary of State for Security, Rafael Pérez Ruiz, had thanked Morocco for its “commitment and efforts” in the face of common challenges such as human trafficking, transnational organized crime and terrorism.

Rafael Pérez recalled the “crucial” work of Moroccan security forces in this field, noting that the intervention of Moroccan agents neutralized the calls on social networks to organize mass entries last September, according to the same source. 

The official also underlined the downward trend and reduction in illegal arrivals in the area of the Strait of Gibraltar, the Alboran Sea and the eastern Canary Islands, which confirm Morocco's collaboration in preventing irregular migration, the press release reports.

The statistics reflect the migratory pressure on the African continent and between Africa and Europe, but also confirm the effectiveness of our cooperation,” the same source adds. 

The Secretary of State for Migration also referred to the “exemplary collaboration” and “strengthened relationship” between the two countries in this field, emphasizing the broad outlines of the Spanish government's policy on migrant integration.