After a series of tense encounters, Morocco and the Netherlands have finally reached an «almost ideal» level of cooperation regarding the repatriation of Moroccan asylum seekers with failed requests. The Netherlands will soon be able to deport asylum seekers who have exhausted all legal avenues back to Morocco. Dutch State Secretary for Justice and Security Eric van der Burg hailed the progress, stating Monday in an interview with De Telegraaf, «Cooperation with Morocco to return asylum seekers whose requests failed to meet legal requirements in the Netherlands is now 'almost ideal'» This marks a significant shift from the past. During the first eleven months of 2023 alone, the Netherlands sent 250 rejected asylum seekers back to Morocco, the highest number in a decade according to the Return and Departure Service. An additional 700 deportations are expected in the next six months. Notably, a thousand Moroccans sought asylum in the Netherlands in 2023, NOS reported. Diplomatic thaw after Past tensions The new development stems from the Dutch government's efforts to mend ties with Rabat. In February 2023, State Secretary van der Burg visited Morocco to discuss migration cooperation and combatting cross-border crime with Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit. In December 2023, Morocco and the Netherlands signed a bilateral extradition treaty, expanding offenses amenable to extradition and streamlining procedures. This progress comes after a period of diplomatic strain. In the wake of Dutch criticism regarding the Moroccan authorities' response to the Hirak Rif protests, Morocco reportedly suspended accepting rejected asylum seekers from the Netherlands. The Hague has since adopted a more restrained approach regarding Moroccan internal affairs. Notably, in May 2022, the Netherlands endorsed Morocco's autonomy plan for the Western Sahara, calling it a «just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution». Announced in a joint statement with Morocco following a meeting of foreign ministers in Rabat, the gesture has since been seen as conciliatory. Despite the improved cooperation, the Netherlands aims to tighten its asylum policy. Van der Burg expressed concerns about asylum seekers disappearing before application processing, stating, «They know they can't stay and will face detention if rejected».
