MEP Marieke Ehlers (PfE) has challenged the European Commission over a European Investment Bank (EIB) loan for a tram system in Rabat, arguing that Morocco's refusal to cooperate on the repatriation of its nationals illegally staying in the EU should block such financing. The written question, submitted on 2 July 2026, targets the tension between EU development lending and migration enforcement.
Ehlers asks whether the Commission approved the loan under Article 19 of the EIB Statute, which requires that projects serve EU interests, and which specific interests outweigh the need for Moroccan cooperation on returns. She also queries whether the proposed Return Regulation, once in force, would prevent such loans under its strict conditions, and demands a full overview of annual EU financial flows to Morocco—grants, EIB loans, and guarantees—with an immediate freeze until Rabat complies with readmission obligations.
The question reflects a push by some MEPs to link EU funding to third-country cooperation on migration, a recurring theme in the European Parliament. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will signal whether it shares Ehlers' view that infrastructure financing should be conditional on migration cooperation, or whether it prioritises broader diplomatic and development objectives.