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On the sidelines of the semi-annual meeting of consuls general organized by Morocco at the initiative of the Kingdom’s embassy in France, high-level officials from the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, including the two co-chairs of the Moroccan-French permanent joint group on migration, held an unprecedented meeting at the embassy’s headquarters, yesterday, Friday, November 30. 2024, at the invitation of the Kingdom of Morocco.
According to a joint communiqué issued after the conclusion of the meeting, the French delegation included the Director of Immigration at the Ministry of the Interior and co-chair of the Moroccan-French Permanent Joint Group on Migration, Simone Feit, the Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister of the Interior, Mathilde Grammont, the Deputy Ambassador in charge of Migration at the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Frédéric Remaud, and the President Deportation Pole at the Immigration Directorate, Delphine Montuel. As for the Moroccan side, it included the governor, the director of the Directorate of Immigration and Border Control, the co-chair of the Moroccan-French permanent joint group on migration, Khaled Zerouali, the director of the General Information Directorate of the General Directorate of National Security, Bouchti Fahli, and the director of consular and social affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and African Cooperation. And Moroccans residing abroad, Fouad Al-Qadmiri, and Samira Sitail, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to France.
The communication explained that the meeting focused on cooperation in the field of readmission and prevention of departure, in addition to improvement points that would facilitate cooperation in the issue of consular transit permits, which are the documents required to enforce obligations to leave French territory.
Following this meeting, which is considered an extension of the meeting held by the Permanent Joint Group on Migration on October 3 in Marrakesh, the French delegation exchanged views with the seventeen Moroccan consuls general spread across French territory (Paris, Orly, Pontoise, Villemomble, Mantes-la-Jolie, Colombes, Lille, Lyon, Montpellier, Marseille and Toulouse). Bordeaux, Rennes, Orléans, Dijon, Strasbourg and Bastia).
This session, which lasted two hours, enabled a fruitful exchange of information and opinions between the Moroccan consuls general and representatives of the French side.
This session, which took the form of questions and answers between the two parties, aimed to strengthen the full cooperation system in the field of immigration between the Kingdom of Morocco and France, where consular work constitutes a pivotal element in this cooperation. The communication indicated that this innovative approach aims to respond to the will expressed by the leaders of the two countries, His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the President of the French Republic, Mr. Emmanuel Macron, during the state visit that took place in Rabat from 28 to 30 last October.
As stated in the Declaration on the Extraordinary Close Partnership signed by the two heads of state on October 28, 2024, the goal is: “to set a comprehensive agenda in this field, which includes, at the same time, facilitating regular movements, combating irregular migration, and cooperation in the field of readmission.” Preventing departures by illegal means, as well as enhancing coordination between countries of source, countries of transit, and countries of residence, on the basis of the principle of shared responsibility.”
This meeting, the joint statement adds, also comes within the framework of continuing exchanges between Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit and his French counterpart, Bruno Ritayo, who held a working session on the sidelines of the French President’s state visit to Rabat on October 29. At the end of the meeting, the two parties expressed their satisfaction with the quality of exemplary cooperation in the field of immigration between Morocco and France, as evidenced by the improvement in indicators related to readmission.
They praised the role of both governors and consuls general, who are at the heart of the strategy and vision developed within the framework of the joint Moroccan-French permanent group on migration. Thus, the two parties agreed that governors and consuls general will continue to encourage direct communication as much as possible to improve cooperation between the two parties. The Moroccan side praised the efforts made by France to enhance legal mobility, especially for students, noting with satisfaction the positive trend in visa grant rates. Protecting the rights of the Moroccan community residing in France, which is the pillar of human, cultural and economic relations between the two countries, was also at the core of the exchanges.
For its part, the French side praised the efforts made by Morocco in the field of managing migration flows, noting the continuous improvement of this cooperation. Finally, the French side expressed its gratitude to Morocco for organizing this meeting, which enabled the implementation of the strategy desired by France and Morocco in the field of cooperation in the field of migration. It will be evaluated at the next meeting of the Moroccan-French permanent joint group on migration, which will be held in France in the first semester of 2025.
It is noteworthy that the Moroccan-French permanent joint group on migration was created in May 2018, and its first meeting was held in Marrakesh.
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How might this meeting impact the overall migration patterns and flows between Morocco and France in the short and long term?
## Interview with Migration Expert
**Interviewer:** Welcome to the show. Today we’re discussing the unprecedented meeting between Moroccan and French officials focused on improving migration procedures. Joining us is [Guest Name], an expert on migration and European-North African relations. Thanks for being here.
**Guest:** Thank you for having me.
**Interviewer:** Can you tell us a bit about this significant meeting that took place in Paris on November 30th?
**Guest:** Absolutely. [Reporter Name] has been reporting on this: France and Morocco held this high-level meeting, bringing together key figures from both countries’ Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, specifically focusing on improving cooperation regarding migration. It was a timely event, building on the momentum set by the state visit of French President Macron to Morocco in late October.
**Interviewer:** What were some of the key topics discussed during this meeting?
**Guest:** According to the joint communiqué, the meeting focused on three critical areas. Firstly, they discussed improving cooperation in readmission procedures, which is the process of returning individuals who have been denied asylum or otherwise found to be illegally residing in one country back to their country of origin. Secondly, they aimed to strengthen measures to prevent irregular departures, meaning finding ways to curb illegal crossings and trafficking. Lastly, they looked at ways to streamline consular transit permits, which are essential documents for enforcing removal orders from France.
**Interviewer:** How significant is this meeting in terms of the broader migration situation between France and Morocco?
**Guest:** It’s quite significant because it demonstrates a commitment from both sides to tackling a complex issue through collaboration. The joint statement emphasizes the “shared responsibility” principle, acknowledging that migration is a multifaceted issue requiring joint efforts between countries of origin, transit, and destination. This meeting sets a positive tone for future cooperation and addressing the challenges posed by irregular migration.
**Interviewer:** What are the potential implications of this meeting for Moroccan migrants in France and for future migration flows between the two countries?
**Guest:** It’s too early to say definitively, but this meeting indicates a desire to address the root causes of irregular migration while also finding more humane and streamlined procedures. This could potentially lead to: improved conditions for Moroccan migrants in France, clearer pathways for legal migration, and ultimately, a reduction in irregular migration attempts. However, it remains to be seen how these discussions translate into concrete actions and policies.
**Interviewer:** Well, thanks so much for shedding light on this important topic. We appreciate your expertise.
**Guest:** My pleasure.
**[End of Interview]**
