Rabat \u2013 Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Tajani claimed Spain should \u201cworry about Morocco,\u201d alleging that\u2019s where \u201cproblems are coming from.\u201d<\/p>\n
He made his remarks<\/a> in an interview with Corriere Della Sera, in which he spoke about a recent political row with Spain.<\/p>\n Asked about Italy\u2019s temporary suspension of Schengen toward Spain, the Italian official said his country is not waging \u201cany kind of battle against Spain,\u201d claiming his government is monitoring migrant arrivals.<\/p>\n \u201cSpain should worry about Morocco: That\u2019s where the problems are coming from, certainly not from our controls, which serve everyone\u2019s purpose of preventing illegal immigrants, and worse, potential terrorists from reaching Europe,\u201d he said in the interview.<\/p>\n His remarks appear to come in line with the ongoing anti-Morocco rhetoric, blaming Morocco, the North African kingdom, for the recent mass crossings in Ceuta.<\/p>\n One of the largest crossings took place on July 30, when tens of thousands of migrants swam to the Spanish-occupied enclave.<\/p>\n Spanish authorities shared different and contradictory numbers since the crossing, with some\u2014including authorities\u2014alleging that between 70,000 and 80,000 entered the enclave.<\/p>\n Moroccan official estimates said 40,000 people headed to Ceuta, while more than 1,000 attempted to cross to Melilla.<\/p>\n Tajani\u2019s remarks come as Morocco continues to strengthen its border controls and respond to calls for new mass crossings amid a lack of limited funds from Europe.<\/p>\n Earlier this week, Morocco tightened its border control and responded to a small number of migrants who sought to cross the enclave in response to a social media campaign inciting a new crossing on August 15.<\/p>\n Morocco arrested at least 290 migrants, including sub-Saharan migrants, who attempted to cross to the enclave.<\/p>\n Tajani\u2019s comments also mark anti-Moroccan rhetoric despite Morocco\u2019s repeated appeals for a shared responsibility to contain irregular migration and cooperate with European authorities.<\/p>\n While Spain\u2019s government acknowledged Morocco\u2019s efforts, other politicians from the cabinet itself and parties on the far right and main opposition attempted to lecture Rabat despite their limited efforts to help tackle the issue of migration.<\/p>\n Some directly blamed Morocco for the influx of July 30, while others accused it of attempting to blackmail.<\/p>\n Morocco, however, strongly responded to the campaign targeting its efforts, emphasizing that the issue of migration should be addressed with responsibility from all parties and not one specific party.<\/p>\n It also emphasized its role as a contributor to tackling the issue and that it should not be regarded as Europe\u2019s guard or concierge.<\/p>\n In response to accusations and complaints, Morocco\u2019s Ministry of Interior called on Spanish authorities to assume their responsibilities and work to speed up the procedures for returning unaccompanied minors.<\/p>\n \u201cCombating irregular migration and human trafficking networks cannot rely on the efforts of one party alone. Rather, it requires all parties to assume their responsibilities and fulfill their commitments within the framework of shared responsibility,\u201d the ministry said through its spokesperson earlier this month.<\/p>\n Morocco also emphasized that it will continue to fulfill its duties with firmness and responsibility, ensuring that tackling migration is not only limited to a specific date.<\/p>\n Italy\u2019s Paradox<\/p>\n Tajani\u2019s attempts to lecture Morocco come as his country is under scrutiny and has been using the Ceuta migration to overshadow one of the heartbreaking cases in Italian history.<\/p>\n