~ MOROCCO SEEKS EU AID ON MIGRANTS ~

[HOUDA-K]

King Mohammed VI of Morocco has said the EU should do more to help his country tackle the problem of illegal migration to Europe from its shores.


The king said Spain understood the gravity of the migration issue


Speaking to the Spanish newspaper El Pais, the king said Spain was a good advocate of Morocco's cause in Europe.
However, he said the EU as a whole had greater resources to help.

King Mohammed said illegal migration was a danger for Morocco as well as Spain, as many heading for Europe from sub-Saharan Africa ended up in Morocco.

"We have always asked Spain and the whole of the European Union to provide us with the means necessary to combat this plague. Right now we lack them," the king said.

Spain and Morocco reintroduced joint sea patrols last year, but human rights groups estimate that more than 500 migrants died trying to reach Spain in 2004 - the highest number in 10 years, according to Reuters news agency.
The king and queen of Spain are due to make a state visit to Morocco on Monday.