Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Monday that Morocco had cooperated with Spanish authorities from the outset of the migration crisis in Ceuta, offering to help curb the unprecedented influx of migrants and facilitate their swift return.
Speaking in an interview with Spanish public broadcaster RTVE, Albares said Rabat responded immediately after the surge in attempted crossings into Ceuta.
"From the very first moments, Morocco offered to cooperate to try to stop this flow of people and, above all, to ensure their immediate return," Albares said.
The Spanish foreign minister revealed that he had remained in close contact with his Moroccan counterpart and other Moroccan officials throughout the crisis.
According to Albares, the two sides agreed to reinforce police deployment along the border in an effort to contain further migration attempts.
"The Moroccan authorities told us that they were fully and immediately prepared, without any demands or additional conditions, to ensure the return of every single one of these people," he said.
Albares' remarks underscore the close coordination between Rabat and Madrid in managing the recent migration surge and facilitating the return of irregular migrants to Morocco.
