Speaking at the opening of the 3rd Peer-to-Peer Conference of the EUROMED Migration V program, held on November 9 and 10 under the theme "Multilateral Migration Partnerships for Sustainable Development in the Euro-Mediterranean Region", Mr. Yazourh argued that "human exchanges remain a chance, an opportunity and a potential for the future of our respective societies," emphasizing the positive contribution of migration on the economic level. "These are often young, educated and trained populations that meet a demand for work not filled by the local market," he noted, adding that migrants also contribute to the cultural enrichment of host societies by bringing new ideas and a desire to succeed, which contribute to the dynamism of society.

"It is time to act in favor of safe, orderly, regular and mutually beneficial migration, to reverse the trend, and to put an end to the negative perception that has been wrongly installed in our region," stressed the Ambassador, Director General.

In this sense, he called for joint action in favor of a common positive agenda that considers the migration issue "as a lever for development and not as an obstacle, as an opportunity and not as a danger".

Due to its geographical position, Morocco has long integrated migration among its priorities, said Mr. Yazourh, noting that the Kingdom is now a country of departure, transit, but also of settlement.

Morocco has shown commitment to this issue over the years, both nationally, regionally and internationally, and has also "demonstrated to be a credible partner that is willing to work in a spirit of responsibility and solidarity on migration issues with all its partners," he assured.

At the national level, the Kingdom adopts, under the foresight of HM King Mohammed VI, a migration policy based on two national strategies, namely the National Strategy for Immigration and Asylum and the National Strategy for Moroccans Residing Abroad, said Mr. Yazourh, recalling that they protect the rights and fundamental freedoms of both foreigners residing in Morocco and Moroccans residing abroad.

These two strategies, he said, "are implemented in cooperation and coordination with neighboring African and European countries, in order to ensure that migration to and from Morocco takes place in the safest, most orderly, and most regular manner possible, and to reduce as much as possible the risks of exploitation, trafficking and abuse.

At the international level, Morocco has long supported the development of an international migration governance framework, Mr. Yazourh added, stressing that the Kingdom actively participates in the work of the Global Forum on Migration and Development, which it co-chaired with Germany in 2017-2018, and hosted, on its soil, in December 2018, the Intergovernmental Conference to adopt the Marrakech Pact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

"The Kingdom is also committed to the migration issue in the Euro-Mediterranean region, both bilaterally, as well as in regional frameworks, including the Union for the Mediterranean and the 5+5 Dialogue," Mr. Yazourh continued, highlighting Morocco's adherence to structured and deep dialogue processes and concrete and multifaceted cooperation actions with the European Union and several of its member states.

Also taking part in this opening ceremony, the Director General of the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Mr. Michael Spindelegger and the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) in Morocco, Ms. Patricia Llombart Cussac. Co-organized by the ICMPD and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, with the support of the EU, this meeting aims to take stock of progress in migration governance in the Euro-Mediterranean region four years after the adoption of the Marrakesh Pact and to explore new approaches to international cooperation for effective, innovative, accountable and mutually beneficial management of migration and mobility.