Ursula von der Leyen, on Wednesday 9 February, underlined the will of the European Union to strengthen its relations with Morocco, during her first visit to the country as President of the European Commission. A mutual desire, she says.
Recalling the close historical, personal, economic and commercial ties between the EU and Morocco, Mrs von der Leyen announced that the two sides were working on the development of a green partnership. “This is the first one we have developed with a partner country. It will also allow us to engage together in the development of greener energy”, she said in a statement to the media.
The Commission President added that the EU and Rabat were working together to strengthen their connectivity, including through a broad digital partnership. “Much can be done to further integrate our economies and better adapt them. This will benefit our companies, their employees and all workers”, she explained. The President also recalled that the EU and Morocco give an “important” place to education and culture in their bilateral cooperation.
While the EU has agricultural and fisheries agreements with Morocco that include the disputed territory of Western Sahara (see EUROPE 12801/23), Mrs von der Leyen did not mention the subject in front of the media.
The President of the Commission also recalled that beyond bilateral cooperation, the EU was also counting on Rabat in the implementation of the new agenda for the Mediterranean (see EUROPE 12654/8). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)