EU and Morocco renew agreement after border deaths

The European Commission vowed on Friday to step up its work with Morocco to fight people smugglers, following the deaths of 23 people at the Morocco-Spanish border two weeks ago.

EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson and Spanish Interior Minister Fernando met with Morocco's Interior Minister in Rabat to discuss the events of June 24, when hundreds of sub-Saharan migrants and asylum-seekers attempted to storm through a border post and scale a border fence into Melilla. In addition to the deaths, more than 70 civilians were injured.

Ylva Johansson, EU Commissioner for Home Affairs said "Two weeks after the tragic event at a border crossing between Melilla and Nador, where people lost their lives and a lot of law enforcement and security forces were also injured, we have discussed how we can further cooperate on fighting the smugglers, preventing such violent and dangerous situation(s) as we saw two weeks ago."  

The European Commission has said in response it would enhance police cooperation with Morocco, including with joint investigations.