Pedro Sánchez: "We must promote formulas to manage migration in a humane, safe and orderly manner"

Presidential Palace, Nouakchott (Mauritania)

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, today began his tour of three African countries - Mauritania, Gambia and Senegal - accompanied by the Minister for Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, Elma Saiz, the aim of which is to strengthen bilateral cooperation to tackle the migration challenge from a multidimensional perspective, against the background of the existing migration crisis and Spain's efforts in terms of relations with West Africa.

During his first official bilateral visit to Mauritania, the President of the Government held a meeting with the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mohammed Cheikh El Ghazouani, with whom he discussed the shared interest in strengthening the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries. In this regard, and as a sign of the understanding between Spain and Mauritania, they adopted a Joint Declaration which highlights the depth and richness of the neighbourly and friendly relations between the two countries, united by cultural and historical ties.

The Joint Declaration also agrees the holding of the First Spain-Mauritania High-Level Meeting in 2025, and includes a wide range of matters of common interest, including business development, the promotion of cultural relations, the strengthening of cooperation on security issues, and the shared management of the migratory phenomenon, among others.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mohammed Cheikh El Ghazouani, during their appearance before the media | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

The President of the Government and the President of Mauritania have discussed the management of the migration phenomenon, which affects both countries. In this respect, Pedro Sánchez defended that "for us, the migratory phenomenon is not only a question of moral principles, solidarity and dignity, but also one of rationality", highlighting the contribution of migrant workers to the Spanish economy.

In this regard, he stressed the need to promote formulas that allow for a humane, safe and orderly management of the migratory phenomenon for the benefit of our societies, and that this requires the adoption of a comprehensive approach that considers all the factors that influence migration and that strengthens cooperation between all the countries involved.

Sánchez and El Ghazouani have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop the circular migration model, a formula that Spain has already successfully developed in different countries, and which is a good tool for managing the flow of migrants in an orderly and legal manner.

Among other agreements reached, the two countries also signed a declaration to strengthen collaboration between the two countries on security and the fight against organised crime.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mohammed Cheikh El Ghazouani, preside over the signing of agreements | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

In the international sphere, the President of the Government has conveyed to the President of Mauritania that Spain will continue working within the EU to promote the fulfilment and execution of the agreements announced last February during the visit he made to Mauritania together with the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, in which the mobilisation of €210 million in additional EU funds for Mauritania in 2024 was announced. Spain's efforts will extent to other organisations such as NATO, within which they will work to bring the two continents closer together. In this regard, Pedro Sánchez announced that Spain will contribute €500,000 to the Mauritania Defence and Security Training Initiative.

Spain-Mauritania Bilateral Business Cooperation Committee

Pedro Sánchez took part in the presentation ceremony of the Spain-Mauritania Bilateral Business Cooperation Committee, officially created in December 2023 by the respective chambers of commerce. The President of the Government expressed his congratulations on the creation of this body, "which will play a central role in increasing business and economic relations between the two countries".

In this regard, he stressed that some 3,000 Spanish companies trade with Mauritania, 300 of which are from the Canary Islands, and that there are several Spanish companies working on important projects in the energy, mining, fishing, telecommunications and transport sectors in Mauritania. "We want to take advantage of the room for improvement and push the economic relationship to another level," Sanchez stressed.

The president stressed that bilateral trade between the two countries is growing steadily, and that Spain had become Mauritania's number one customer and its fourth largest supplier in the world and second largest in the EU by 2023. Pedro Sánchez also highlighted the existing special relationship between Canary Islands companies and Mauritania, due to their geographical proximity and historical ties.

Non official translation