Morocco accepted just 8% of deportation orders for its nationals issued by the European Union, according to a report of the European Commission published by Statewatch in July.
In 2023, the EU issued 35,065 deportation orders for Moroccan nationals residing irregularly in Europe, yet only 2,760 were deported, resulting in a return rate of just 8%. This low acceptance rate places Morocco among the countries with the least cooperation on readmission, alongside others like Mali, Guinea, and Algeria.
Despite this, Morocco continues to be a central figure in discussions on migration, given the increase of its nationals irregularly crossing into Europe. In fact, Morocco tops the list of African nations in this regard.
However, the cooperation levels remain varied across EU member states. Some countries have rated Morocco’s assistance in processing deportation orders as “good” or “very good,” while others have described it as “poor” or “very poor.”
Although the EU and Morocco have a long history of negotiations on migration-related issues, particularly since the early 2000s, formal agreements on readmission have faced multiple interruptions.
Talks initially launched in 2000 were later halted in 2010 and briefly revived in 2015, only to be suspended again. As of 2023, negotiations for an EU Readmission Agreement with Morocco have not resumed, the report noted.
The report recommends that Morocco take “concrete steps to enhance cooperation on readmission” given the large number of Moroccan nationals arriving irregularly in the EU. The European Commission has also expressed a need for “more flexibility and efficiency in the process,” including easing certain requirements and streamlining procedures.