The creation of the Association of Moroccan Graduates in Spain (ADME): context, objectives and activities

In fact, the idea of creating this association has been in the works for several years in response to a need motivated by several reasons, including: 

• The geographical proximity and human and socio-economic exchanges that have taken place, are taking place and will continue to take place between Morocco and Spain. Each country, as is evident, largely shapes its policy based on its geography. 
• On the one hand, the existence of thousands of Moroccan graduates from Spanish universities, grandes écoles and training centres, and on the other, the lack of a structure that brings them together and makes use of their multidisciplinary knowledge, fruitful experiences and invaluable professional and human relationships to strengthen relations between their country of origin and the country where they studied. 
• The search by numerous Spanish and Moroccan organisations for a credible institution, with highly qualified people who are familiar with the reality of both countries, to carry out joint projects. 

Spanish-Moroccan relations: lights and shadows 

The history of relations between Spain and Morocco is full of examples of human interaction and mutual influence, something natural between two neighbouring countries. This rich and continuous reverse osmosis, which has existed since time immemorial, is reflected in a wide range of social and economic manifestations. At the cultural level, particularly in terms of language, mutual influence dates back many centuries. The existence of more than four thousand words of Arabic and Amazigh origin in Spanish, as well as thousands of words and expressions of Spanish origin in the speech of Morocco in general, and northern Morocco in particular, corroborates this linguistic and cultural symbiosis. 

The two books I have recently published, entitled Words of Spanish Origin in the Speech of Northern Morocco and Compendium of Words, Expressions, Children's Games and Place Names of Spanish Origin in the Speech of Northern Morocco, highlight the deep roots and abundance of this influence. Speaking a common language means sharing thoughts and emotions. That is why Moroccan and Spanish are more closely related than they appear. If we leave religion aside, the kinship and family resemblance are obvious. It was not for nothing that the great Benito Pérez Galdós exclaimed in his ‘Aita Tetttauen’: ‘What is a Moor but a Muslim Spaniard? And how many Spaniards do we see who are Moors disguised as Christians?’ 

This interconnection has been significantly strengthened in recent decades, regardless of the political colour of the Spanish government, thanks to a sustained policy of cooperation at all levels (economic, scientific, cultural, migration, security, justice, taxation, etc.). 

More recently, the two joint statements of 7 April 2022 and 2 February 2023 recognising the Moroccan initiative for autonomy as the most serious, realistic and credible basis for resolving the Western Sahara dispute have marked a turning point in these relations. This new pragmatic and disruptive position of the Spanish government has had an accelerating effect on economic exchanges between the two countries. Today, Spain is Morocco's most important economic partner, with a turnover exceeding £24 billion in 2024. 

With 20,000 Spanish companies working directly with Morocco and more than 1,000 fully established in the country, Morocco is the country that receives the most Spanish investment on the African continent. Likewise, Moroccan investment in Spain has grown significantly in recent years. 

The increase in the number of tourists in both directions (1 million Moroccans compared to 3.5 million Spaniards in 2024) is the logical consequence of this atmosphere of calm and trust that reigns between the two countries thanks to the iron will of their top leaders to ensure that relations between the two countries are strategic in nature. 

This process is likely to be reinforced by the organisation by both countries, together with Portugal, of the 2030 World Cup, which is providing further opportunities for both countries to strengthen their political and socio-economic cooperation and to catalyse cultural and human flows. 

However, despite this substantial and commendable progress, there are still some grey areas, including: 

*In Spain: 

The persistence in much of Spanish society of a counterproductive view of Morocco and Moroccans. This simplistic and distrustful view, sometimes based on ignorance and sometimes on malicious intentions, is fuelled by a certain political class and a fairly broad range of media outlets seeking easy electoral gains. This perverse discourse is echoed on social media, which today shapes the views of a large part of the population. 

Based on isolated incidents related to irregular immigration or integration problems, they portray the Moroccan community in Spain as a conflictive people who only want to take advantage of aid without making any effort to integrate into their host country and respect its values. 

Added to this narrative is another, also based on the past, which presents Morocco as a backward, risky and static country, failing to mention its geopolitical and geo-economic dynamism, its entrepreneurial youth, its desire to modernise and improve the living conditions of its population. 

It is clear that not everything is rosy in Morocco and that the country faces a number of challenges, particularly at the social level, like many other developing and even developed countries. However, it is one thing for the country to continue to suffer from structural problems and quite another to make it an object of socio-political catharsis and an electoral adjustment variable. 

Such a perception prevents us from realising the importance for Spain of having a prosperous and stable neighbour, diminishes the strategic importance of cooperation between the two countries, and underestimates the very positive impact of the majority of the Moroccan diaspora on the Spanish economy. 

The Moroccan state's lack of investment in cultural and media structures in Spain with the aim of improving the country's image does not help to counteract this negative perspective. 

*In Morocco: 

There is a certain abnormal coldness on the part of thousands of graduates from Spanish universities towards the country where they studied. This reluctance is essentially due to two reasons: the administrative obstacles they encounter in terms of mobility and the lack of favourable treatment they receive when enrolling their children, as is logical, in Spanish schools. This unease must be dispelled as soon as possible. 

We are also witnessing a meagre return at the popular and institutional level – compared to other countries – on Spain's significant economic, investment and educational-cultural efforts. In our opinion, the lack of a Spanish-speaking media platform that highlights and disseminates this enormous effort is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed. The involvement of the Spanish private sector in Morocco in achieving this objective is essential. 

This miscellany of obstacles means that the substantial improvement in relations between the two countries in the economic and political spheres is insufficient to move beyond the current situation and place these relations within a much more solid and lasting framework. 

This invites us to mobilise other resources in an effort to overcome these obstacles and avoid returning to square one with all the problems that this entails. Educational and socio-cultural work among the Spanish population is a task that needs to be addressed, as is the opening of channels for discussion and debate with opinion makers in our Iberian neighbour. Raising awareness among the Spanish population of the interdependence of the two countries and their common destiny is a key element in ensuring the sustainability of relations. A greater and better presence of Morocco in the Spanish cultural and media landscape is of utmost importance for the achievement of these goals. 

Likewise, a greater presence of Spain in the Moroccan media is essential to highlight and recognise the considerable efforts it is making. 

The role of Moroccan graduates from Spanish universities is essential in promoting this necessary work of immunisation and strengthening. We believe that the next five years are very favourable for launching such an initiative. 

Moroccan graduates from Spanish universities: a lever for overcoming difficulties and strengthening relations 

We are talking about thousands and thousands of highly qualified professionals in various disciplines: medicine, engineering, pharmacy, chemistry, physics, biology, law and political science, economics and management, architecture, translation, diplomacy, language and literature, fine arts, music, etc. A good number of them prefer to settle in Spain and integrate into Spanish society, while others return to their country of origin and participate in national economic and socio-cultural development, maintaining excellent professional and personal relations with Spain and the Spanish people. 

However, as mentioned above, the impact of the relational and suggestive force of these thousands of graduates is limited due to the absence of a unifying and ‘federating’ entity that brings them together and channels their ideas and initiatives for the benefit of relations between the two countries. 

Aware of the importance of the current political moment in relations between Spain and Morocco, we believe that the establishment of this association will enable them to play this pioneering role and allow the institutions of both countries to take advantage of their professional and relational qualities. 

Objectives of the ADME: 

In addition to bringing together these graduates on a platform that allows them to exchange ideas and experiences and to share the strong relationships they have forged in Morocco, Spain and some South American countries, the association will seek to raise their profile and enable them to play a more relevant role in line with their numerical, professional and socio-economic strength. 

The ADME also aims to be a reliable interlocutor for public and private institutions and civil society in both countries, advising them and offering its multidisciplinary knowledge and relational strength to promote cooperation between them and reduce the limitations mentioned above. 

The association will also intercede with the competent Spanish authorities to facilitate the conditions for study, residence and social integration of Moroccan students in Spain. 

Means: 

In order to achieve these aims, the following activities will be carried out: 

• Create a think tank dedicated to considering relations between the two countries and developing the appropriate tools to promote them. 
• Launch a media platform focused on promoting Spanish-Moroccan relations. 
• Encourage decentralised cooperation projects. 
• Organise tourist, cultural and sporting activities in both countries. 
• Establish a Spanish-Moroccan network that includes associations, organisations and research centres. 
• Conclude agreements and carry out projects with companies, institutions and foundations in the public and private sectors in Spain and Morocco. 
• Edit, publish and disseminate documents, newsletters, magazines and works of all kinds in line with the association's aims. 

Dr. Mohamed Nouri, president of ADME