Stichproben. Wiener Zeitschrift für kritische Afrikastudien Nr.8/2005, 5. Jg. Country of emigration and new country of immigration? Challenges for Moroccan migration policy between Africa and Europe 1 Axel Kreienbrink Abstract The article traces the development of migration policies in Morocco from the earliest colo- nial regulations to the most recent law adopted in 2003. The recent policy changes are analysed against the background of changing patterns of migration and the transforma- tion of Morocco from a country of emigration to country of transit migration and, albeit to much a lesser extent, also a country of immigration. It is argued that the main reason for policy change were longstanding demands by the European Union that Morocco puts more efforts into containing migratory flows directed towards Europe, a fact, which is evident from the focus of the law on policing measures and sanctioning irregular emigra- tion. Finally, the article analyses the consequences of the change in policy for the present migration situation in Northern Africa. It concludes that Morocco will continue to yield to European policy demands, while it will at the same time try to strike a balance with the objective to maintain good relations with its African neighbours. Introduction Morocco has a long tradition of labour migration to Europe. Since the clo- sure of Europe for almost every form of immigration, Morocco’s location in Northern Africa has also turned it into an important point of departure of irregular migration flows into the states at the northern shore of the Medi- terranean (Spain, Italy, France). Migrants are not exclusively of Moroccan origin but increasingly from Sub-Saharan Africa. These migrants intend to use the kingdom as a transit route, but difficulties in entering Europe fre- quently result in longer stays in the “host country”. Thus, Morocco is sud- denly confronted with a growing foreign, immigrant population while still considering itself an emigration country. In this context, the country is increasingly subject to pressures from the EU and the Northern Mediterranean states to adopt more effective measures 1 The views expressed in this article are exclusively those of the author.