Migration in Morocco: History, Current Trends and Future ... - MGSoG

The MEDA program’s funds support the control of illegal immigration and rural
development programs. The funds specifically target the Northern provinces where
poverty levels are high and human smuggling and irregular migration take place (De
Haas, 2005). Morocco has an active role in distributing the funds on these issues;
however, there are also serious doubts about the credibility and effectiveness of these
policies (De Haas, 2005). Policies between Morocco and Europe are not adequate to
target the root causes of migration; they are also not sufficiently developed to fight
against the professionalized smuggling techniques and rapidly-adapted migration
strategies. Finally, these policies put Morocco’s relationship with other African countries
in danger, which consequently decreases Morocco’s incentives to be engaged in these
policies. Given all of these issues, Morocco–Europe relationships will continue to be
challenging in the coming decades.
7.3 New Trends in Migration Policies
Looking at the migration policies developed in the last few years, a new trend can
be observed concerning the bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Morocco and
Europe. The new policy field focuses more on the relationship between migration and co-
development. An important dimension of this new approach is the participatory role of
migrants and their associations in the development of their home country (Øsgtergaard
Nielsen, 2009). In the process of engaging migration and co-development, migrants are
encouraged to actively participate in projects. Regional and local governments as well as
NGOs aim to facilitate migrant participation. Recent policies emphasize migrant
incorporation by treating migrants as collective actors who can contribute to their home
country’s development from a distance (Øsgtergaard-Neilsen, 2009).
Migrant agency and the incorporation of the transnational dimension to
development policies can be clearly observed in Catalonian policy documents. This new
trend can be criticized from different angles, however. In this transnational approach
many different actors such as migrants, local populations, and government actors are
supposed to work together. The conflicting interests of these groups may slow down the
realization and fruitfulness of the projects (Øsgtergaard-Nielsen, 2009). Moreover, such
policies may unnecessarily make migrants responsible for development issues that the
44