Unaccompanied Minors File: Rabat reaffirms its commitment and calls on Spain and Europe to overcome legal obstacles

A high-level diplomatic source confirmed that the Kingdom of Morocco continues to work seriously and intensively to identify unaccompanied minors abroad, in implementation of the Royal instructions issued to the Ministries of the Interior and Foreign Affairs, aiming to facilitate the repatriation of unaccompanied minors to their motherland as soon as possible.

Full Moroccan readiness and coordination with European partners

The same source clarified that Morocco renews its full readiness for constructive coordination and cooperation with its direct partners in Spain and the European Union to address this file, noting that the Moroccan position is based on a firm Royal directive that places the best interest of children and their protection above all other considerations, far from any other calculations.

Categorical rejection of political maneuvering and electoral exploitation

In a related context, the diplomatic source expressed deep regret that some political voices and entities continue to direct false accusations against Morocco whenever the debate on the migration issue arises. He emphasized that claims accusing the Kingdom of weak cooperation or lack of desire to retrieve its children are false and baseless allegations.

He added that some political actors, particularly in Spain, intend to exploit the minors’ file for narrow electoral purposes, stressing that the reality on the ground completely refutes these claims, and that the Kingdom categorically rejects the use of this humanitarian file as a political pressure card or to question Rabat’s seriousness and adherence to its commitments.

Legal and administrative obstacles lie on the European side

The diplomatic source emphasized that Morocco has fulfilled and continues to fulfill all its international and regional obligations, explaining that the real obstacle preventing the effective implementation of repatriation operations lies in the complex administrative and judicial hurdles of the procedures in force within the European countries themselves.

The source concluded that if European partners have a sincere desire to accelerate this file, the duty requires them to conduct an internal review of their legislative system and to overcome the complex procedures imposed by their judicial and administrative authorities, in order to facilitate the repatriation of unaccompanied minors and their integration into their natural environment.