Morocco is planning to establish a center to accommodate 400 unaccompanied minors, with a proposed budget of 9 million euros. The center aims to provide support to these minors, with a focus on preventing irregular departures and facilitating the return and reintegration of those who have been in the Netherlands. The project has been under discussion since 2024, with diplomatic efforts between Rabat and The Hague.
The center will have a dual role: preventing some departures and taking care of return cases. It is expected to operate over five years, with two years dedicated to construction and three years for operation. The proposed center is part of a broader dialogue between Morocco and the Netherlands on the issue of unaccompanied minors. In February 2023, Moroccan Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit visited the Netherlands to discuss the return of Moroccan unaccompanied minors.
The Moroccan project was detailed in a June 20, 2024 email, in which Dutch officials discussed a proposal from Rabat to establish a multifunctional center in Morocco. The center would provide support to unaccompanied minors and facilitate their return and reintegration. The Dutch government is considering providing 3 million euros, approximately one-third of the total budget, to support the project.
The Dutch government is currently weighing two options for the center: building a new facility or equipping existing premises. Officials are also verifying whether the proposed capacity aligns with the number of young people that can be accommodated. This assessment is crucial in determining the project's feasibility and potential impact.
The initiative has made progress on the diplomatic front. In January 2025, discussions between the Dutch ambassador to Morocco and Moroccan officials touched on the center as a means to facilitate the return of unaccompanied minors. The issue remains on the agenda, with a meeting between Moroccan and Dutch officials on April 1, 2026, and a report dated April 7, 2026, referencing previous discussions on the joint construction of the center.
The center's planned capacity of 400 is expected to cater mainly to young people who may leave Morocco irregularly. A smaller part of the program will be dedicated to those returning from the Netherlands, aiming to ease their reintegration. Morocco and the Netherlands have been engaged in discussions on this issue since 2024.
The project's implementation and funding are yet to be finalized. While the Dutch contribution is being considered, the Moroccan government has not publicly confirmed its commitment to the project. The center's establishment would mark a significant development in the cooperation between Morocco and the Netherlands on migration issues.
Key points
- Morocco plans to build a center for 400 unaccompanied minors with a budget of 9 million euros.
- The Netherlands is considering a 3 million euro contribution to the project.
- The center aims to prevent irregular departures and facilitate the return and reintegration of unaccompanied minors.
