Morocco and Switzerland seek to improve migration and security cooperation

Morocco and Switzerland held a meeting in Berne in which representatives of both countries expressed their desire to increase cooperation in terms of migration. And they did so on an unbeatable occasion, as the meeting took place within the framework of the second meeting of the Permanent Joint Migration Group (GPMM).

The event, chaired by the Director of Migration and Border Surveillance of the Ministry of the Interior, Khalid Zerouali, and the Swiss Secretary of State for Migration, Christine Schraner Burgener, served to bring positions closer together on this issue, which they hope to discuss in greater depth in the near future. The Moroccan ambassador to Switzerland, Lahcen Azoulay, was also present.

The positive results obtained from the National Immigration and Asylum Strategy, thanks to which it was possible to regularise the situation of migrants and integrate them into Moroccan society, were also highlighted. The delegation from the Alawi kingdom, made up of officials and managers from various sectors, also wished to refer to the need to pay attention to security and development.

The impact of the inclusion of migrants through the project has been really good. They have become a factor of enrichment and diversity, as well as a great solution to the problems of migration flows in the region. Rabat's increasing efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and the dismantling of human trafficking organisations were also highlighted.

All of this was largely praised by a Swiss delegation that wanted to highlight the important role that Morocco is playing as a regional leader. The trend in the country presided over by Aziz Akhannouch is very positive, and Switzerland believes that it is one of the key countries, not only because of its privileged geographical location, but also because of the actions being carried out by the Moroccan government, which Berne considers "very effective" in terms of human management and migratory flows.

Another aspect highlighted by the Swiss delegation is the role being played by the Moroccan community in Switzerland. They attribute the good functioning of the migration issue and its management to it to a large extent.

This meeting leaves good feelings on both sides, as the first meeting of the GPMM held on 5 September in the Moroccan capital was crowned with the development of concrete initiatives that addressed "different areas of migration following a global approach". Now, the aim is to go a step further and continue to improve relations that continue to consolidate Morocco's position as one of the most trusted countries on the European continent.