The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, announced, on Thursday 5 January, the strengthening of relations between the EU and Morocco.
The year 2022 had already marked a strengthening of the partnership with, in particular, the signing of a green partnership (see EUROPE 13028/18) and financing agreements of nearly €500 million for 2022/2023, the strengthening of political dialogue, with the visit of the President of the European Commission (see EUROPE 12887/15), and sectoral cooperation, including in the field of migration.
Rabat is expected to receive €1.6 billion from the EU over the period 2021-2027, the most important financial cooperation for the EU in the region, Mr Borrell told a press conference in Rabat on the occasion of his first trip of 2023.
According to Mr Bourita, the partnership between the EU and Morocco has three dimensions: neighbourhood, values and interests. “The partnership needs to be nurtured and enriched”, explained the minister, adding that his meeting with the High Representative had enabled him to identify ways of nurturing this partnership. “We are going to schedule an EU-Morocco Association Council next year (...), we are going to strengthen political dialogue at all levels, by seeking innovative formulas, in terms of content and format”, explained Mr Bourita.
“We must build on our common achievements to look towards an even friendlier future”, added Mr Borrell, who announced the launch of two new initiatives for 2023: a high-level security dialogue, to be held soon in the Moroccan capital, and enhanced cooperation in multilateral forums between the EU and Morocco.
The two men called for progress in a digital partnership and support for Moroccan youth. Mr Borrell also called for the implementation of commitments, whether in the fight against climate change or the energy transition. He stressed the EU’s commitment to accompanying Morocco in these reforms, including in the social, health and education fields.
Mr Bourita denounced as well the attacks that the partnership would face. “This partnership must be protected on both sides, it cannot not be immune”, he explained, denouncing the “continuous legal harassment” concerning Western Sahara (see EUROPE 12801/23), the “repeated media attacks” while Morocco is notably cited in the ‘Qatargate’ affair in the European Parliament and “attacks in European institutions and notably in the European Parliament with questions on Morocco, which are oriented”, with the aim of “damaging the partnership”.
For his part, Mr Borrell explained that it was necessary to do what is needed to preserve the legal framework of the partnership and that the decision of the courts had to be respected and to adapt the partnership as necessary, in accordance with international law.
He further recalled the EU’s position on Western Sahara: the Union supports the process of the United Nations and its Special Envoy to reach a political solution that is “just, realistic, pragmatic, lasting and mutually acceptable”, in line with the UN Security Council resolutions.
Referring to the Qatargate, the High Representative said that there could be no impunity, that it was necessary to wait for the results of the ongoing judicial investigations and that he expected the full cooperation of all in this investigation. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)